Portrush school community pays tribute to much loved and respected caretaker
A Portrush school closed for a day as a mark of respect to its much loved and respected caretaker who passed away.
Carnalridge Primary School closed on Tuesday, April 14, following the death of Ernest (Ernie) McAuley who had been the caretaker at the Atlantic Road school for more than 30 years.
In a post on social media, Carnalridge PS said: “Everyone connected to Carnalridge, past and present, is mourning the loss of Ernie.
"He has walked our corridors for over 30 years, taking the time to say hello to everyone and doing whatever he could to help out. He will be missed by everyone at Carnalridge Primary School.
"We pass on our deepest condolences to Ernie’s family. He will never be forgotten.”
Mr McAuley died peacefully on April 11 and was described in a family notice as the “beloved son of the late Ernest and Agnes, much loved brother of William, Samuel, Johnny and the late James, Robert and David, dear brother-in-law, much loved uncle and great uncle”.
Tributes paid to Mr McAuley on social media included comments such as “Ernie was a friend to all the children and staff in Carnalridge Primary. Everybody respected him and valued everything he did for us. Our lives have been enriched by knowing him. He was a great colleague and a dearly loved friend who will be sadly missed”.
Another read: “Ernie – a gentle man who loved a chat and a chuckle. My children all have very fond memories of him as a cornerstone of Carnalridge Primary School”.