EVENTS REPORTS
50 Year Reunion – Class of 1965
| Date : | Tuesday, 14th April 2015 |
50 Year Reunion – Class of 1965
The Class of 1965 held its 50 Year Reunion on Friday, 27th March 2015. For some, the Reunion began with golf that morning at Foxrock Golf Club. For most though, the Reunion started that evening with a tour of the College – a heady mix of nostalgia from familiar corridors and pride in recent additions to the educational and sporting facilities. We are grateful to Johnny O’Shea, Development Officer for the College, for conducting the tour. It was gratifying to see such investment in the infrastructure of the College for the continuity of its values.
A centrepiece of the Reunion was Mass in the College Chapel in remembrance of our deceased classmates of whom (we believe) there are 17 in number. It was a poignant ritual as the name of each deceased brought to mind the person we knew in our youth – a gentle reminder that we journeyed together 50 years ago and will eventually exit by the same path. The College Chapel was magnificent as ever in its décor and its aura of quiet sanctuary. We are grateful to Fr. Cormac O Brolchain for celebrating the Mass, to Fr. Tom Nash and Dee Murray for arranging the liturgy, to the organist and choir for guiding us through the hymns and to classmates who assisted with the candle ceremony, readings, offerings and prayers.
After Mass, we travelled by coach to Killiney Golf Club for the Reunion Dinner. If the recipe for an exceptionally good evening is an excellent venue, excellent food, excellent wine, excellent service and excellent company, then indeed we had an exceptionally good evening. It is unusual for so many to dine together without a hint of complaint. Everyone was very complimentary and no one went home disappointed. Ollie McMahon and Mike Soden take the credit for the outstanding catering arrangements.
The success of the Reunion depends entirely on enthusiasm for the event and on that score, there was a very good response. Due to family commitments, ill health or residence abroad, 37 classmates were unable to attend and sent regrets. Even so, 70 sat down for the Reunion Dinner, including our honoured guest, Shane Murphy, President of the Union. Some flew in especially for the occasion from as far afield as the UK, Spain, Canada and Guatemala. Others travelled from distant parts of Ireland. Many had not been back to the College since leaving school. It was a pleasure to see them all again. For all the change in outward appearance, the personalities had not changed over time – a case of plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. It was remarkable to see bonds of friendship so strong after 50 years and to see affinity with the College remain undiminished.
By arrangement, speeches were brief and kept to a minimum. The loudest cheer on the night went to Chee Thong who explained he was not Tony Chin but understood being mistaken for him as “we all look alike to you guys†- in fact, he was Chee Thong, Victor Ludorum at the College Sports, 1965. He spoke very graciously and appreciatively of his time in Rock and in Ireland. On reflection, he spoke for all of us that night.
We are pleased to record that the Reunion showed a cash surplus of €500 which is being donated to the Machakos School Project in Kenya (€200), the Blue & White Fund (€150) and Pieta House (€150).
Finally, many thanks to the Union and to Rita Murphy in particular for their assistance.
Until we gather again.
Derek Scally
On behalf of the organising committee
The Class of 1965 held its 50 Year Reunion on Friday, 27th March 2015. For some, the Reunion began with golf that morning at Foxrock Golf Club. For most though, the Reunion started that evening with a tour of the College – a heady mix of nostalgia from familiar corridors and pride in recent additions to the educational and sporting facilities. We are grateful to Johnny O’Shea, Development Officer for the College, for conducting the tour. It was gratifying to see such investment in the infrastructure of the College for the continuity of its values.
A centrepiece of the Reunion was Mass in the College Chapel in remembrance of our deceased classmates of whom (we believe) there are 17 in number. It was a poignant ritual as the name of each deceased brought to mind the person we knew in our youth – a gentle reminder that we journeyed together 50 years ago and will eventually exit by the same path. The College Chapel was magnificent as ever in its décor and its aura of quiet sanctuary. We are grateful to Fr. Cormac O Brolchain for celebrating the Mass, to Fr. Tom Nash and Dee Murray for arranging the liturgy, to the organist and choir for guiding us through the hymns and to classmates who assisted with the candle ceremony, readings, offerings and prayers.
After Mass, we travelled by coach to Killiney Golf Club for the Reunion Dinner. If the recipe for an exceptionally good evening is an excellent venue, excellent food, excellent wine, excellent service and excellent company, then indeed we had an exceptionally good evening. It is unusual for so many to dine together without a hint of complaint. Everyone was very complimentary and no one went home disappointed. Ollie McMahon and Mike Soden take the credit for the outstanding catering arrangements.
The success of the Reunion depends entirely on enthusiasm for the event and on that score, there was a very good response. Due to family commitments, ill health or residence abroad, 37 classmates were unable to attend and sent regrets. Even so, 70 sat down for the Reunion Dinner, including our honoured guest, Shane Murphy, President of the Union. Some flew in especially for the occasion from as far afield as the UK, Spain, Canada and Guatemala. Others travelled from distant parts of Ireland. Many had not been back to the College since leaving school. It was a pleasure to see them all again. For all the change in outward appearance, the personalities had not changed over time – a case of plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. It was remarkable to see bonds of friendship so strong after 50 years and to see affinity with the College remain undiminished.
By arrangement, speeches were brief and kept to a minimum. The loudest cheer on the night went to Chee Thong who explained he was not Tony Chin but understood being mistaken for him as “we all look alike to you guys†- in fact, he was Chee Thong, Victor Ludorum at the College Sports, 1965. He spoke very graciously and appreciatively of his time in Rock and in Ireland. On reflection, he spoke for all of us that night.
We are pleased to record that the Reunion showed a cash surplus of €500 which is being donated to the Machakos School Project in Kenya (€200), the Blue & White Fund (€150) and Pieta House (€150).
Finally, many thanks to the Union and to Rita Murphy in particular for their assistance.
Until we gather again.
Derek Scally
On behalf of the organising committee
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