2009 40 Year Re-Union- Class of 1969

Date:09 Mar 2009
Category:Class Reunions

40 Year Re-Union - Class 1969

After months of planning the day arrived. The 20th of February the sun shone through for the 40 year out re-union.

Elm Park Golf Club welcomed the 69’ers. The course was in immaculate condition and the golfing standard was high for the Brendan Lynch expertly organised 3 ball scramble competition. The top 5 teams all came in with the same gross score of 71. However with handicap adjustments the winning team was Wally Browne, Liam Harrington and Cilian O Brolchain.

The main group all then congregated in Blackrock College for a quiet cup of tea in the Library followed by Mass to honour the eleven deceased members of the year, namely Patrick Cassidy, Con Crowley, Patrick Gallagher, Bill Graham, Peter Hall, Noel Hayes, Quintin Hogan, Brendan King, Colm O Sullivan, Patrick Stanley and Leo Travers.

The chief celebrant in the Mass was Fr Sean Mullin and the Liturgy was superbly arranged by Father Tom Nash. It was a magnificent ceremony with our wonderful harpist being accompanied by some very interesting singing. At the end of Mass Fr Sean presented all the class of 69 with a memento as a debt of gratitude for the happy year he spent in their company in Blackrock. A very moving gesture.

The group were then brought by bus to Stradbrook for the re-union dinner. The hall was decked out magnificently with (surprise surprise) a blue and white theme. The placemats were a variety of photographs of the year. Over 90 sat down to a fine fare from Knights catering. Included in the group were some of our long suffering teachers of that time. How come they look younger today than they did in 1969?

Mind you what was also very reassuring was how young all the 69’ers all looked. A fine body of men. And they had come from far and near. We had attendees from, New Zealand, South Africa, Norway, The U.S., Germany, Tenerife, The U.K., not to mention from a variety of counties in Ireland.

The speeches were limited, Gerry White welcomed our guests; the President of the College, Fr O Brolchain gave a great insight into how the school is striding ahead and the President of the Union, Eugene Harrington advised the group of the great works of the Union particularly the Blue and White Fund and the Mission Fund. A raffle was held and the class of 69 generously raised a fantastic sum of €2804. The Mission Fund had agreed in advance that Father Sean Mullin would be the recipient of half this sum and the balance is going to the Blue and White fund.

The revelry continued well into the night; stories were told and re-told, memories were conjured up and laughter and merriment were the order. What a great atmosphere. Old friends are best - well maybe not so old!!!

Thankfully all arrived home safely and the e-mails started to arrive the next day – when are we meeting again? Soon please God.

Thanks to Ivan Durcan, Brendan Lynch, Gerry McGrath, Cilian O Brolchain and Gerry White.