Welcome from Robert Brophy Welcome to the New Blackrock College Union website. It is a great honour for me to be elected as president for the academic year 2021/2022.

It is a privilege for me to represent all my fellow rockmen as President of the Union. This year we expect the total membership numbers to exceed 8500 members. This growth in numbers will continue to be driven by our class ambassadors programme which is up and running. Inclusion and engagement are two strong themes that we will continue to focus on during the year ahead. 

In this regard, we are conscious that the experiences of some of our fellow past pupils while at school in Willow Park or Blackrock College may have been damaged by abuse by persons, priest and lay, who were teachers during those important years. The Union wants you to know that if you have been affected by such experiences, there is practical and moral support available on a confidential basis by contacting the Union Office unionoffice@rock.ie.

During the past eighteen months all of society has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Blackrock College Union has been no different. Many of our events have been rescheduled or postponed. As the new union calendar kicks off, we are cautiously optimistic of hosting as many of our events as possible, strictly following the government’s guidelines and restrictions. We salute the great work done by all the frontline workers and this work continues every day by these heroes. Many of our own members are amongst these numbers and we thank them all for their dedication and service. We remember everyone who has been affected by this pandemic and our thoughts and prayers go out to them all. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our future events as we try and get back to our usual way of life.

Stay safe and stay well. Fides et robur.

Robert Brophy (Class of 1982)