Its’ Friday of the May Bank holiday last year 2017, I’m just wrapping up looking forward to a chilling out weekend, the phone rings at 4.30pm - I answer it. Our Family Doctor, Breda Clifford says she needs to see me urgently, can I come to her Clinic before 5pm. I respond surely this can wait until Tuesday morning - she advises no, sorry I need to come in now. Denise my wife drives us in. Breda advises she was agonising over the call, but had to make it..............the innocuous wart that was removed last week from my stomach has been analysed by the Lab.......its’ melanoma........serious.......there are 2 types (a) one that grows down.....its’ fatal there is no cure and (b) the one that grows across.........I need a further operation under Specialist care to determine which it is.
On Tuesday morning I meet Mr Ormond at St James’ Hospital, one of the premier skin specialists in Ireland. It will take a week or 10 days to determine which type of melanoma......I have......all sorts of thoughts have gone off in my mind.........I’m not ready to go.......I’m just on the way back from the wipe out of the Celtic Tiger......financially I can’t leave.......my eldest boy is in his first year of university post CWC.......he’s not ready to take over our business.......my Christian Faith .....kicks in........its’ in God’s hands now.........a surprising calm grips me........the next week is a haze.........the operation is a success.......I have the melanoma that is curable.......a three inch scar is all that remains.........thankfully I will make our 40th Reunion in October 2018........life is a precious gift must be treasured like never before.
It is the 2nd of September 1977, my brother and I arrive at the Castle, this is my final year at CWC.......the Leaving Certificate will determine our future lives/careers....the game has just got serious. We are all assigned rooms in the 6th year block I am sandwiched between Danno Farrington and Morgan Flynn......we are trusted to study on our own........it’s up to us now. My cube is pretty comfortable - and like all paths in life there is a temptation to “coast and take the easy route” rather than “front up and study hard”........perhaps like the majority of CWC students and most teenagers worldwide, I probably took the path of least resistance and only studied when I absolutely had to.
Rugby in September 1977 was everything - to misquote Churchill, “if CWC survives for 1,000 years perhaps its’ finest hour was the SCT Cup win of 17 March 1978”.........congrats to Greg, Freddie, Doggo, Johnny, Ambrose, Coyno, Con, Barry, Wally, Mark, Tim, Redmond, Gerry, to the Poetry Players and panel 1.......magnificent. Praise also for our Coaches - Mocky and Vinnie Murray are up there with Joe Schmidt......superb. One memory I have is the Irish Independent headline after our win in the quarter finals v. Pres Bray “Browne the Toast of Clongowes”. Freddie had scored 2 tries.........it was surreal our rugby heroes were celebrities and well deserved. I will sign off on the rugby side of the Cup success now - that Story deserves to be told by one of the Cup heroes themselves.
With apologies in advance to non SCT winners, our year will always be associated with that magnificent win and this final blog is written on that basis.
As a fan and spectator my memories of the 17th March win are still to this day vivid......just before kick-off Gucks tells me......he would swap his 2 precious “All Ireland winning medals” to be on the pitch....... an 18-year-old playing for your school in the final must be akin to a day in heaven. The Final whistle rings out and CWC led by Greg has achieved the impossible, bridged the 52-year gap and brought the holy grail back home to CWC....magic.......now the serious partying begins. A room has been hired in Jurys......gate crashing skills are required....Team only......I evade security as a Free Bar awaits......
I only find out later that thanks to the generosity of the Dads’ of Greg, Freddie, Johnny and Barry......there is a free bar for at least 3 hours........wonderful....I get acquainted with “Harvey Wall Bangers, Jameson”....we toast the mighty success.... it might be another 52 years.......
Nottingham Forest under the legendary Brian Clough storm the 1st Division after having been promoted and surprisingly win. Ipswich win the F A Cup causing a massive shock beating Arsenal 1-0. Wales win the 5 Nations and Triple Crown. Elvis is number 1 in September with “Way Down”, his tragic death on the 16th August at the tender age of 42 traumatized music lovers throughout the world.
Tigger is made school captain - rightly so - his charismatic personality fully deserves the position.......a popular choice. We all settle down to the school routine pretty quickly, teachers in class are listened to attentively, gut instinct warns from within, a decent leaving certificate will lead to greater opportunities. The CAO points system is competitive and being from Clongowes doesn’t carry any extra marks - results only will determine our University choices.
The CAO form is complex, and choices have to made - we can’t leave life decisions on the long finger any more - I decide I want to be a Lawyer.......calculate that I need decent grades in at least 5 of my 6 honours subjects....it is achievable, but discipline is in short supply I’m not enjoying my first month back as I’m not part of the Senior Panel. I line out for the thirds.........I play well in the first game scoring 2 tries and kicking all of the penalties and conversions, but then my stubbornness, one of my unfortunate vices kicks in........why should I bust a gut playing thirds when I have no chance of moving up. I quit and sulk....
Meanwhile most of my friends are on the Senior Panel and I am consigned to a year with the intellectuals, swots, smokers, comedians......all good company, but really all I wanted was to play rugby. In my first year at UCD I played U-19 for Belvo being picked ahead of a couple of our cup winning team......a small crumb of redemption....served cold and too late to make any difference. A life lesson.......you don’t always get what you want........painful and character forming....a perfect foundation for life.
There are plenty of extracurricular activities other than sports........there are auditions for the School Play “Coriolanus”......budding thespians congregate and learn their roles, lines and parts, under the tutelage of Johnny Looby SJ. I audition and get a minor part with Con, both of us play “Roman Soldiers”..........I see first-hand the dedication and effort that it takes to put on a superb performance. “Tender Egan” is a smash hit in the Lead Role........he delivers an Oscar winning performance. The cast and crew are given a celebration dinner in the Castle, a 5 course Steak extravaganza served by white gloved waiters, treading the boards has its’ perks.
Ollie Dyar, Rossa, DJ and Cormac deliver excellent Academy papers. Sean MacBride, the son of Maud Gonne, an international statesman and former politician comes to give a moving talk to the school. Higher Line debating prepares future Senior Counsel, and Solicitors for their roles.........Clongowes caters to all of its’ participants. Eamon Doohan wins the Palles Gold Medal with Peter Howick bagging another Palles - silver on this occasion. James Binchy winning the Palles for Maths.
We have 2 Socials with Rathnew and Dominican Convent Wicklow - self-proclaimed lotharios claim major romantic success.......but it’s all innocent and most of it probably imagined. Certainly 2 good nights out. We are expected to attend a Retreat in Manresa House in Ranelagh. James Binchy and I go together when our turn comes in early November. 2 days of a mixed retreat with Mount Anville, St Theresians and other South Dublin girls’ Schools isn’t too bad at all. Boys from Belvo, Michaels and Gonzaga make up the numbers.
The Jesuit methods clearly have their endearing sides. I’m told by the Presiding Jesuit Retreat Leader that his assessment is, I’m a well-rounded Clongowes Boy ready for life’s adventure........if he only knew....I was bleeding inside......I just want to be part of panel 1 and not be on the side-lines....Sport was everything for me, nothing else mattered.
The Cup starts in February, an easy win against Masonic. Pres Bray prove to be difficult opponents however Freddie’s heroics sort them out. We are in the semi-finals at Lansdowne Road against St Michael’s.........a close encounter....we edge through. Celebrations begin in earnest.......we are unable to control our thirst for Guinness, Harp and a chaser.......watching the clock as we leave Jurys .......we have to be back at Batchelors’ Walk for 9.30pm. We straggle back.......the team has gone for its’ meal.......the rest of us jump on the number 46a bus much the worse for wear.......and just about clamber onto the Bartons’ bus home to Clongowes.
We are in various stages of inebriation.........a warm feeling engulfs those of us who stuck to the Guinness....those who took chasers are in a different league and much the worse for it. We have an hour to sober up.........some of us don’t make it. Mocky meets us at the front of the Castle. I hold Titch Kelly up with the help of Felix........we get him to his room. Others are not so lucky...........there is an emergency meeting called the next day. Conduct unbecoming Clongownians is not acceptable even if we are celebrating a SCT semi-final victory, as rare as a blue moon. Authorities must make an example of a few.......suspensions are issued to Johnno, Morgan, Jack and one other whom I can’t remember.
Pleas of understanding are made by Tigger as school captain and indeed myself as a member of the School Council........they fall on deaf ears. At the declamation/meeting Peter Howick makes the best point using his comedic talent to great effect.......he exclaims that its’ impossible to celebrate an SCT semi-final win, with a slice of Pizza!
The Cup Celebration takes place in the Refectory after Easter. Surviving members of the 1929 Team return.......the baton has been passed....the SCT CUP is enshrined in all its’ glory in a trophy outside the refectory. A magnificent dinner ensues with all invited - except the majority of 6th year who weren’t on panel 1........fair enough.......one special memory is that Robert and myself borrow a Roast Turkey from under the Chef’s eyes and gorge on same in the warm summer evening in front of the castle.........even the uninvited are entitled to celebrate!
There is a concert arranged and highlights include Johnno a la Rock Star Donnelly and his band crooning out the 6th Year Block, a special rendition of “Jailhouse Rock”.......one of the lines seared on the memory is “little Titch Kelly on his side trombone”. Con sang a Bernie Flint song, and there was comedy from Tigger and Birdie, with the Muppets song being rebranded as “It’s time to put on purple....its’ time to put on white”, by our own CWC quartet..........Peter Howick comedian acts as MC......X Factor eat your heart out!
We are now deep into the summer term, exams just weeks away. A certain “Joe Foyle” arrives to offer us “speed reading tips” at a price. A number of us sign up - Bob Krieger remarks that Joe’s Rolex looks pretty expensive........obviously earning so much on the promise of teaching speed reading to mugs like us! One thing I have always remembered from that encounter is that the smooth-talking Mr Foyle remarked “The Guy who’s doing nothing is working the hardest”.........a life lesson. And yes, the speed reading was worth every penny!
Alcoholics Anonymous come to give Rhetoric a talk - a notice goes up on our Board - “Voluntary attendance except for 2 named members of our year who are mandatory attendants ........at 40 years remove and knowing my Editors’ reluctance to allow any potential additional earnings for Senior Counsel via Libel claims.......I will not reveal names. That said I have great respect for our Jesuit educators....they got more things right than wrong........and the 2 gentlemen probably did benefit from the event!
The last Sunday in May comes around too fast - our final month in Clongowes is upon us. There were a couple of noteworthy issues at school council level. As 40 years have now passed, the official CWC secrecy rules no longer apply. My first reveal is that Brother Joe was not happy with the treatment he received post the CWC SCT victory.......I was consigned along with Greg and Rossa....to broker a peace deal by the School Council. I strenuously pointed out that I was not on Brother Joe’s Christmas card list to say the least, I was told to carry out my duties. I went along........in fairness Brother Joe had trained the team at U13’S level and deserved some praise/acknowledgement....which he accepted from our delegation.
The other reveal is that Doggo won the Aloysius by a short head - there was a very worthy runner up - it possibly should have been a dead heat. Another life lesson......sometimes you will never know how close you were......by the way the name of the runner up is not to be revealed.
We had a final farewell dinner with the Jesuits and Teaching Staff and our esteemed editor has already circulated a copy of the menu and signatures in his excellent email updates. Mick O’Dowd our Deputy Headmaster made a memorable speech - he spoke about values and integrity, and standing up for what is right, we were now ready to face the world. We closed with “Auld Lang Syne” - and went our separate ways.
And so, to finish we were born in 1960 (Not all of us - The Editor ) and made in Clongowes Wood College.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this web site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the 40th Reunion 1978.
2. Copyright Statement and Policy
A. The author of the article published on this web site owns his or her own words.
B. The articles on this web site may be freely redistributed in other media and non-commercial publications as long as the following conditions are met. The redistributed article may not be abridged, edited or altered in any way without the express consent of the author. The redistributed article may not be sold for a profit or included in another media or publication that is sold for a profit without the express consent of the author.
C. The articles on this web site may be included in a commercial publication or other media only if prior consent for republication is received from the author. The author may request compensation for republication for commercial uses.
3. Submissions
An article may be submitted for possible publication on this web site in the following manner. Send a short email message to clongowes1978@gmail.com
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