Portraits of Clongowes Lunch

Everyone one has a story. Everyone doesn’t always want to share it however, for one reason or another. Every Clongownian, for the most part, is still policed by that humility inducted as part boarding school life. That somehow knowing your place. Regardless of who you are, what you are or how you, in the real world. Or where you sit on LinkedIn. Portraits of Clongowes is about that daily life in CWC and the memories and reflections many chosen to share about life ever since. In its perfections and imperfections. After all, the place was not for everyone. 

 Thus, the e podcast is a blend of stories, some, nostalgia and a general look back over various decades. A reminiscence too on how the vocation to educate by those countless selfless Jesuit teachers, who, we thought all just lived in the splendour and luxury of the Castle. Where Clongowes did what it said on the tin, take us in as boys and sending us in due course on our way as men years later. The life learning of Clongowes crafted certain ways of thought and behaviours, with a concern for others being paramount amongst them perhaps. 

The commonality of voice in all the Portraits has convinced that there is a thing we all share. So intuitive that there is no word that quiet summarises it fully to my mind. Yet a commonality that clearly manifests itself clearly across every interview in men for others The teachers and staff throughout various generations clearly generate a respect and admiration that is still voiced many decades later.

 That roll of honour is lengthy and sadly some of those voices silenced now by the passing of time; Lawton, Power, Brereton, Lawler, O’Beirne, Casey, O’Connor, Crowe or O’Dowd, Murray or Miller. Yet the voices of Brendan Cullen, Liam O’Connell, Martin Nugent, Hugon Simm and Mocky Shiel are still clear and steadfast. Their commitment to our education, with passage of time, has dwindled little become even more valued. Time has a funny way of doing that to one.

For all those who participated in the Portraits, and continue to do so, I thank and salute you very much. Not only for courage of sharing your experiences with the prying ears of your peers, but the honesty, thoughtfulness and frankness of each that has been so impressive. Be it the palpable courage of Jack Kavanagh or the whispering knowledge of horse trainer, John Oxx. It is hard to individually mention fairly all the ‘portrayers’ as everyone impressed as human beings. Even the initially reluctant such as Richard Bruton, who found the trip down memory lane somewhat energising as reminiscences came back to him as he spoke. 

The privilege of hearing these stories first hand had been a unique experience and then to share it a growing responsibility. It is a testament to the work of all those teachers over the years, initially with the Jesuits in the community and subsequently with the lay teachers, how that mutual respect is heard and still voiced to this day in all the Portraits of Clongowes. That was very evident too at the lunch hosted in The Merrion Hotel in April where Mick Medeiros OC’18 was the keynote speaker

 A very unique occasion and made possible by Peter MacCann OC’79 in The Merrion Hotel, along with the support of Willie Burns and the OC’79 year, not forgetting the particular generosity of Mick O‘Leary, also OC’79. Indeed, last series of the podcast would not have been even possible without the vision, support and energy of Dec Ryan OC’81 to whom I also owe a huge personal thanks! Not forgetting the vital sponsorship of Jigsaw - Youth Mental Health.

*Portraits of Clongowes is a Podcast series available on iTunes; Spotify; Google Podcasts and most other platforms. The podcast is produced by Peter Rice and recorded at Dublin South Podcast Studios in Dundrum.

1978 AHP INITIATIVE

watch video

 

On behalf of Clongowes Foundation I would like to draw your attention to a wonderful, new funding initiative for the Alberto Hurtado Bursary Programme (AHP). A programme I have seen work up close over past eighteen months through the podcast, Portraits of Clongowes

 

This new initiative, pioneered by the OC'85 Year, now allows for the members of a given OC Year to come together and fund a bursary student through his six years in Clongowes in a flexible, anonymous, and transparent way. The Clongowes Foundation acts as a facilitator to the Year setting up an iDonate link and applying for the tax credits.

 

This new style initiative allows a Year of Old Clongownians to come together to support the Alberto Hurtado Bursary Programme. Importantly it is a template that allows for:

 

flexibility, in that each past pupil can participate at a level and with a frequency that suits the individual.

 

offers anonymity,  in that the names of donors are anonymised.

 

transparency, in that the donating Year can see the individual donations and the running total at all times, and tax efficiency.

 

In that way donations are worth 30% more when an Irish taxpayer donates more than €250 in a year and assigns the tax benefit to the Foundation. We expect the average donation to be maybe reach €300 perhaps which goes a long way to kicking the project off.

 

Using idonate.ie as the platform for donations the Foundation will claim a tax refund on donations of €250 or more, per annum on behalf of the individual. This refund can reduce the amount that any Year needs to give by some 44%. This pioneering initiative of the Year of 1985 can be replicated hopefully by 1978

 

The cost for a Bursary student is 140k over 6 years. By contributing 20k per annum (with the addition of the tax refund) the Year group can support a student through his time at Clongowes. It’s also not imperative we find the full sum as even half a bursary is a great help to the foundation. So don’t be scared off by the imaginary numbers or sums as this a much more pragmatic approach. So much so that I feel able to part with 500€ annually to support this worthy programme offering boys an opportunity.

 

For more information on this initiative and support to set up please contact Joe Rooney jrooney@clongowes.net or Antoinette Kelly antoinettekelly@clongowes.net. 045 838215. They can also link you with members of OC85 if you’d like to hear directly from them.

 

To view the OC85 Bursary fundraising page please visit https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/CWCOC85Bursary

 

The Alberto Hurtado Bursary Programme.

The Alberto Hurtado Programme (AHP) is a bursary programme that seeks to give the opportunity of the unique educational experience that a seven-day boarding school can offer to children whose financial circumstances otherwise would preclude them from attending Clongowes. For the very most part these boys have attended primary schools in areas with designated disadvantaged status (DEIS).The AHP is not a scholarship programme.

 

The students are not selected on the basis of their academic, sporting or musical abilities. They are chosen instead on the grounds of their general suitability, family ambition and their potential to thrive in a seven-day, boarding environment.

 

Here is the link         OC78 Bursary Fundraising Initiative.

Webpage is here      https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/CWCOC78Bursary.

 

I have just put in a target of €20k.

 

We have some information on the website also OC Year Group Bursary funding webpage

 

 

45th Reunion

Another landmark year was passed in recent weeks when the Rhetoric 1978 reunited in Clongowes for a tour,  mass and dinner which started in the Boys Chapel with Michael Shei

The gathering coincided with the 50th anniversary of the 1973 boys who went on to enjoy hospitality in the Castle and dinner to mark their special occasion.  

The day started with a tour of the school moving from the former theatre, now the James Joyce Libray, through what was the top open dorm for Third Line in our day, now kitted out with comfy seats, pool tables and table soccer. 

Many of the old  single cubes now joined so as to facilitate 2 or 3 boys into a more. Communal atmosphere. Then the new sports facilities with pool, gym and weights room firming part of a new workd to us old boys, as is the all weather pitch stood where once we would have scaled walls to raid the orchard

The name of playing field behind the gym commemorates one of schools great teachers of our tuner, Vinny Murray. A kind man of great teaching ability in realms of economics and PE and who went on to m scale great heights  as a rugby coach. Notwithstanding his Westmeath roots in soccer and GAA 

In a mass celebrated by the evergreen ‘Mocky‘ we were joined by formerThird Line prefect in 1973, John O’Keeffe SJ and a headmaster in his day, Liam O’Connell SJ.  as well as former Deputy Headmaster Martin Nugent.

The photographs in the Serpentine Gallery recorded the presence too of others teachers of our time Brendan Cullen, Margaret Doyle, Patrick Finan and Hugon Simm. 

With no room available in Castle Wogan Brown for the young 78ers we relocated to the Westgrove Hotel in Clane for pre and post prandials and a superb dinner.  

Yet again these Reunions prove that the joint time together in Clongowes still retains unique bonds even forty five years laterwhen the Rhetoric 1978 reunited in Clongowes for a tour,  mass and dinner which started in the Boys Chapel with Michael Sheil

The gathering coincided with the 50th anniversary of the 1973 boys who went on to enjoy hospitality in the Castle and dinner to mark their special occasion.  

The day started with a tour of the school moving from the former theatre, now the James Joyce Libray, through what was the top open dorm for Third Line in our day, now kitted out with comfy seats, pool tables and table soccer. 

Many of the old  single cubes now joined so as to facilitate 2 or 3 boys into a more. Communal atmosphere. Then the new sports facilities with pool, gym and weights room firming part of a new workd to us old boys, as is the all weather pitch stood where once we would have scaled walls to raid the orchard

The name of playing field behind the gym commemorates one of schools great teachers of our tuner, Vinny Murray. A kind man of great teaching ability in realms of economics and PE and who went on to m scale great heights  as a rugby coach. Notwithstanding his Westmeath roots in soccer and GAA 

In a mass celebrated by the evergreen ‘Mocky‘ we were joined by formerThird Line prefect in 1973, John O’Keeffe SJ and a headmaster in his day, Liam O’Connell SJ.  as well as former Deputy Headmaster Martin Nugent.

The photographs in the Serpentine Gallery recorded the presence too of others teachers of our time Brendan Cullen, Margaret Doyle, Patrick Finan and Hugon Simm. 

With no room available in Castle Wogan Brown for the young 78ers we relocated to the Westgrove Hotel in Clane for pre and post prandials and a superb dinner.  

Yet again these Reunions prove that the joint time together in Clongowes still retains unique bonds even forty five years later

Portraits of Clongowes

Portraits of Clongowes  

A podcast series on alumni who went to Clongowes and their recollections of those days looking back now as adults. In seeking balance some of the expected names are absent.

Yet everyone who has shared their story reflects on the formative influence being a boarder in CWC has had throughout their life, careers and lasting friendships. 

The unique commonality of each story is striking and developed unknowingly at the time in the school. A man for others is a common theme for many.

The series is devised and created by Rossa McDermott, an alumni from 1978. The podcasts are recorded and produced at Dublin South Podcast Studio,in Dundrum

A third series is recording in January 2024 with an array of contributors already committed including Patrick Coveney. 

In Series 2 a number of former headmasters and teachers have spoken, as has the first parent to contribute, Liz O’Kane. 

In addition, Bidemi Afolabi an impressive Alberto Hurtado scholarship student now running his own business, who shared his story in Series 2.

“It was a real trip down memory lane. Amazing how much you still remember” Richard Bruton

“Seems a long time ago now…. and overall I enjoyed it very much “ 

John Oxx 

“I thought I had sneaked in at the back late noticed  for a Leonard Moloney year meeting.. when I was asked how my day had gone at Cheltenham? Of course that day I had a winner and had been on TV …. Undeniable evidence!”

Patrick Mullins 

Portraits of Clongowes is available on all podcast platforms

The Gathering of 1972.....

@franphoto

The lynchpin of this 40th reunion was Michael Sheil SJ, who back in 1978 was in his first season as Higher Line prefect, and thankfully still remains such a vital part of Clongowes. As the enabler ten years ago, when we were invited to have dinner in the Castle, this time he invited us to mass in the Boys Chapel. For our gatherings returning to the school and a mass are keystones to the Reunion with a number in our group not having been back to Castebrown in the four intervening decades. So, it proves a real walk back into history for them.

@franphoto

But then history is intertwined with the 1978 year, given we were the first group to suffer the schism and that option to sit a fourth year or O’Levels. A change which was to become Transition Year in the late 20th Century. Then 1978 Rhetoric year was also remembered for winning the Leinster Schools Senior Cup, after a losing streak of some 52 years. Although a much more common feat this millennium, in those days it was rarer than hen’s teeth and a cup run was usually just the one cup match with a Late Leave. That year was also the only time the Gollymocky Grand National was run, and in 1978 was won by local Mainham colt, James Kelly. 

@framphoto

Our Reunion dinners are rather unique as they are open to all who started in Rudiments 1972, and this time we were joined by a supporting cast that included Martin Nugent, Margaret Doyle, Brendan Cullen, Liam O’Connell SJ, Brian Brosnan, Hugon Simm, John O’Keeffe SJ, Paddy Finan and Deirdre Murray, wife of the legend that is Vinny. Not forgetting the current Third Line Prefect, Tony Egan. Lest we forget, the Reunion also remembers those who taught us and have been lost along the journey, along with three from our own ranks; Joe Prendiville from Killorglin, Brendan Rumley from Ballymacoda and Cathal Ryan from Celbridge. 

@franphoto

This time the starting point for the 40th was Friday night at The Cellar Bar in Dublin, then moving to The K Club on Saturday morning for 18 holes of golf, followed my mass at CWC and dinner for 70 at the Westgrove Hotel in Clane. It was truly memorable and fruit of the hard work of the Organising Committee of Greg Dilger, Chris Guckian. Anthony O'Berine, Ambrose O’Sullivan and Cormac Lucey. Also made the more possible by the generosity of David Kelly (OC78) with our printing needs, Ned McQuaid (OC77) who donated the golf trophies from Dublin Crystal; Peter MacCann (OC79) at The Merrion Hotel and Dr WM Smurfit KBE (OC55) at The K Club. 

It was truly one of those moments when we were all men for others. 

Rossa McDermott

Brendan Rumley SJ Remembered

Whenever I read the name Brendan Rumley with Fr in front of it and SJ behind it, it always makes me look twice. This is a night of memories and everyone has their own memories of Brendan. I remember his great sense of fun.

I remember the night the two of us got chased around the streets of Rome by a crowd of angry Italian communists . The school had organised a pilgrimage to Rome for the Holy Year in 1975 , and we landed in the middle of a bitterly fought election campaign between the two main parties who cordially detested each other...the Communists on the left and the Christian democrats on the right . We were very taken with the Communist posters...big, red , hammer and sickle jobs , really well-designed. This wasn't anything to do with the merits or de-merits of Communism...but coming from a very sheltered and conservative Ireland of the mid-70's , these were novel, eye-catching, radical and ...oppositional. Brendan turned to me and said 'Gosh, I'd love one of those for my cubicle'. I replied that it'd annoy the J's. It'd annoy our parents. It'd be perfect !'

So out we went one evening after dinner to peel off a few posters . Whatever about us annoying the J's and annoying our parents, we sure as hell managed to annoy a group of Italians on the other side of the road who followed us as we walked quickly away from our half-peeled posters , and then ran after us as we legged it as fast as we could .

Brendan wore his faith lightly. i was gob-smacked when he told me , two years later, that he was thinking of joining the Jesuits. And later, when i visited him in the Novitiate in Manresa, I was amazed at the depth of his spiritual life. At a time when my own prayers were remarkable a ) for their brevity and b) for their self-interest, he was telling me how the high point of his day, every day, was the hour he spent in silent adoration, and how much he was looking forward to doing the largely-silent 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola .

He was Gerry O'Beirne's sole Spanish student and his Spanish was put to good use when he was sent in 1986 to Latin America . He was stationed at a Jesuit school, the Colegio Christo Rey in a place called Tacna, in Peru. Peru was not a safe place to be at the time. And it took great courage to accept this assignment at a time when the country was locked in a bloody conflict between the Maoist Sendero Luminoso guerrilla group which controlled large swathes of the country , and the Government. Neither side much minded how many eggs they had to crack to make the omelette each desired . The Jesuits were popular with neither side. But they were popular with the people .

We live in a selfish and a faithless age . How sad then, that Brendan...so full of faith , and so selfless, a true man for others...should be taken by his illness only a few short years after he was ordained a priest of the Society of Jesus . But how great it was that he was able to do all the good he did , in the time that he had . My youngest son is the same age now as we were when we were chased about the streets of Rome. I like to think, and i dare to hope , that as my children embark on the great adventure of their lives, that in Brendan, I have a friend in Heaven who i can call on from time to time to help me keep them safe and keep them on the right path. 

Ar dheis de go raibh a anam .

Eamon Doohan

Nebuchadnezzar went mad.....

"Too whit- too whoo, a merry note while greasy Joan doth keel the pot”

The sight of Harry Clifford brazenly jigging on the lockers after lights out in the 3rd line open dorms; the extraordinary pace (and hairy chest) of Johnny Hickie at age 13; all of us meekly queuing for our weekly shower at the pool, butt naked, clutching a facecloth to shield our modesty in Rudiments (Tony, more generously proportioned,required a hand-towel); Bertie Brereton, the legend that he was, writing “work hard and be happy” on the blackboard; Brian Lennon (a.k.a. Ronnie Drew), through gritted teeth and with justification, telling me after yet another transgression,”’you're the worst bastard I have ever met, and MacManus, I’ve met a lot of bastards…”; 

The 8pm mad dash for the old gym to play indoor soccer after study in Grammar - sweaty, competitive, exhilarating - 10 a side, if you were too late, tough luck!

That crazy OPEC oil embargo in 1973, with no electricity and the ensuing mayhem at evening study; the juddering, shaking, pock marked hands of the Infirmary doctor as he administered cholera injections; Wally was called “Gaston” in Eimer McDermott’s French class; Who did you prefer-Miss Ruane or Mademoiselle Bachelerie?(verdict-they were both gorgeous); Shadow-boxing with Oggie-Doggie (my uncle Tom) in the lunch queue; Ned McQuaid’s lavish moustache age 15; the fleeting, intense obsession we had with bridge in Syntax; Kevin O’Connor’s rise and rise as an incredible tennis player of national stature, yet so humble and understated; Mickey O’Dowd’s kind, twinkling eyes and infinite patience; ELO, Supertramp,10cc, Pink Floyd, Genesis, the Eagles, Bob Marley, Earth Wind and Fire, Billy Joel. 

Marty Coyne crooning along with Bill Withers after the Mt Anville social ”lovely day, lovely day, just a lovely day…” (yes, he was in love again), and he wasn’t the only one. Sadly, I was dumped a few weeks later); 

The mountains of mouth-watering fresh bread and spuds we ate. Bob Kryger’s arrival, with his broad NY accent and American warmth; Tigger concussed, unconscious and hospitalised v Blackrock, a chilling, visceral memory. The hot girl working in the ref when we were 17 (come on, you remember her), Martin Moloney’s vast intellect on all matters historical; Jono, Paulie and Jack’s band performance that brought the house down and blew us all away; trying, and failing (after a day), to maintain silence on the Manresa Mouse retreat; Barry’s gentle giant/monster hulk off pitch-on pitch persona; Gucko absolutely hammering full tilt into the unpadded upright on the senior pitch one wet, cold training session-and getting up unscathed and running on ( they breed them tough in Ballinrobe); 

The classic Howick-Shanahan comedic duo in Coriolanus;  Doggo Bolger being awarded the “Alo” trophy in Rhetoric to universal approval; Greg’s immense strength of character as he sealed victory with that 60m kick at Lansdowne Road. Finally, the seismic shift that took place in CWC ethos with the arrival of Philip Fogarty and the unique force of nature that is Mick Sheil.

Flute-flute-pipe, flute-flute-pipe, zith-zith-zither, zith-zith-zither…Nebuchadnezzar went mad, mad-mad, fell down in a rage, mad rage…

written by Mike Mac Manus    #MauraCrannyRIP