 |
| @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
