50-year school reunion for former St. Patrick’s College students

By Michael Byrne

THE Park Hotel in Kiltimagh was the setting for a night of nostalgic reminiscing and sharing for a group of past pupils of St. Patrick's College in Ballyhaunis who came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation from the old secondary school on the Knock Road in 1972.

Over two years of planning went into the gig, steered by a group comprising of Martin Joyce, Gerard Cleary, Noel Finnegan, Dom Byrne, Liam Lynskey, Michael Kelly and Tony Carney. Former teachers were contacted, and between one thing and another, four teachers who were part of the St. Pat's College family during the 1960s were free to attend the celebration - Claremorris native Fr. Des Walsh, now retired in Galway, Ballyhaunis natives Fr. Kieran Waldron, John Cleary and Morgan Jennings, a proud man from Finny, a resident of Ballyhaunis now for some 50 years.

Of the 33 students who formed the class of 1967-'72, a grand total of 26 brave souls made their way to Kiltimagh from many parts of the country, as well as from London and Michigan in the USA.

The occasion was unique in that it was the first ever 50th year anniversary of any class which attended St. Patrick's College from 1961 to 1977.

Opening proceedings at the Park Hotel dinner, Fr. Des Walsh welcomed all to the gathering and thanked the organising committee for inviting him to the special event. "We remember also all those who could not be here tonight and also those who have departed to their eternal reward (John O'Brien, Enda Forde and Michael Flynn, RIP)," he said. "I would also like to remember your parents who were such an important part of the school family at that time, the many sacrifices which they made in those years."

This, of course, was in the era before school transport, when most students cycled some distance to and from school - from Granlahan, Irishtown, Knock, Bekan, Aghamore and Ballinlough, in the depths of winter too!

Organiser in chief of the reunion, Martin Joyce, said the event was by no means a one person show and all played a part in bringing the night together, thanking the organising group who made the gathering possible. He welcomed in particular Jim Hunt, who, although he spent only one year in the class, travelled all the way from Michigan for the occasion.

"I often think of the wonderful education we received at St. Pat's, and which we took for granted. It's only now in hindsight that I realise the great gift we received from our wonderful teachers of that time.

"Our teachers taught us how to think for ourselves and gave us a sense of independence," he reflected.

Joe Rattigan from Knock, speaking on behalf of all present, said: "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Martin and his team for organising this event. This wouldn't have happened were it not for you, so well done to all of you."

At the end of the evening Fr. Des said: "It's been great to meet up with you again, although some of you I wouldn't recognise! My advice to you tonight is, keep it up, keep in contact, and be sure to meet up again as a group again sometime, but don't leave it too long!"

After the dining, the class of '72 retired to the lounge where a most enjoyable night of reminiscing and story telling continued 'til the wee hours.