Dear Parents / Guardians
Welcome to our school: Our Lady of Lourdes, traditionally known as Park Lodge.
We are delighted to welcome you to our school website—a window into the heart of our daily life, learning, and celebration. As a faith-based Catholic school, we believe every child is a unique and precious child of God, deserving of love, opportunity, and the chance to reach their full potential.
Our school is a place of academic excellence, creativity, and joy. We are proud of our talented musicians, artists, performers, and athletes, and we nurture confident, curious learners who are ready to lead and explore the world on their own terms.
Play is at the heart of our learning, and we are blessed to be located at the foot of Cave Hill—an inspiring natural space where our Forest School and outdoor learning adventures begin. These experiences enrich our pupils’ wellbeing, independence, and problem-solving skills.
We invite you to explore our website and discover the richness of our curriculum, the vibrancy of our community, and the many opportunities we offer for families to learn and grow together.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School first opened its doors on 28 August 1958, welcoming 150 boys from across Belfast, particularly the Antrim Road area. Many of these pupils transferred from St Patrick’s CBS on Donegal Street.
Affectionately known as Park Lodge, the school began in a grand old mansion nestled in wooded grounds at the foot of the historic Cave Hill. With fruit gardens, glasshouses, and a tower overlooking Belfast Lough and the County Down coastline, the building was said to be inspired by Napoleon’s villa on Saint Helena.
Once owned by the Baird family—publishers of the Belfast Telegraph—the house served as an ARP station during the war and later as a welfare centre for children. In 1958, the Christian Brothers purchased the property and, with help from the local community, transformed it into a school.
In January 1967, pupils moved into the new building that we still use today. In 1990, trusteeship passed from the Christian Brothers to the Diocese of Down and Connor, marking a new chapter in our story. That same year, the school became fully co-educational, welcoming girls for the first time.
Today, Our Lady of Lourdes continues to grow, rooted in its proud history and committed to nurturing every child in faith, learning, and community.
