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4 GLENSTAL NEWSLETTER Spring 2007

THE HOME PAGE OF THE OLD BOYS’ WEBSITE – www.myubique.com info@myubique.com

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The 2006 London GOBS Reunion at the Reform Club on Pall Mall, London

Welcome to myubique.com We have all been privileged to spend some of our youthful years at Glenstal Abbey (Priory) School. For most this was a happy time, for some radiantly so; for all it was a profoundly formative experience.

What is Glenstal? ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

NEWS Photos from London Dinner in November 2006 more... Annual Golf Day 2007 more...

a place of great scenic beauty a haunted castle a House of God The Fun Capital of the world (for some people!) a centre of academic excellence a sanctuary of monastic peace and prayer a sportsman’s paradise somewhere you can truly be who you are Friendship

Scholarship Award section added to website more... Scholarship Award Information Evening more... Autumn 2006 Newsletter more... Photos from Golf Day 2006 more... Red & Grey Old Boys Tie for sale more...

Glenstal is all of these things and the unique blend of them all together. Above all, Glenstal is the people who have lived and worked there, and those who still do to this day. The purpose of The Glenstal Old Boys Society and of this site is to promote communication, friendship, sharing, and hope between all who have known and valued the Glenstal experience. Although most of us maintain contact with some of our Glenstal friends, the vagaries of personal history and geography do inevitably dispatch us in many different directions. Our aim is to facilitate and renew old friendships but also to add a new dimension to individual or year-group experiences of Glenstal by putting different generations in contact with each other. There are nearly 2,000 of us out there who have so much in common and so much that is worth sharing! We are committed to making this site more and more interactive so that it will truly belong to the members of the Society.

VISIT OFTEN AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE SITE SO THAT OUR OBJECTIVES CAN BE ACHIEVED, TO THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF ALL. John Coyle (1959-1964) President – president@myubique.com Andrew Nugent osb, Secretary – secretary@myubique.com

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JOHN OLIVER SWEETMAN (1947-1954) ohn Oliver, as he was invariably known, to distinguish him from his father, John Walter, and his cousin, John (known at school as John Ordinary) and I first met at Glenstal on our first day at school there in September 1947 and developed what was to become a lifelong friendship. We were very different in many ways but this must have been an attraction of opposites.

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golfer and a keen horseracing enthuiast. One of his boasts was that while he had played rugby for seven years he had never once touched a rugby ball! Paramount among his many interests was his love of music of which he was a total connoisseur and from which he derived immense enjoyment.

At school John was known in his earlier years as “Scientific John Oliver” because of his fascination with all things scientific. In other respects also he was very bright and invariably at the top of his class.

We were both lawyers in later life and John became one of my leading counsel, whose sound advice was always well grounded. Excellent with clients, John was meticulous and thorough. He was noted for his kindness to his young barrister colleagues by whom he was regarded as a virtual mentor.

John’s sporting interests consisted of billiards and tennis, at both of which he excelled. He was also a competent

Socially, he was the best of company, often regaling friends with stories of his experiences in practice and jousts with

judges and colleagues. John was one of the most popular members of the Irish Bar, to which the huge attendance of his colleagues at his Requiem Mass bears testimony. John was very fortunate in his married life, both in respect of his charming wife Elma and their son John Emmanuel, to whom, and to his sisters, Helen and Angela, and his brother Walter, we express our deepest sympathy. Until we meet again, John, which is quite certain: Good Night, Sweet Prince, and flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest. Bruce St. John Blake (1947-1954) Edited by Andrew Nugent osb Layout & Print by INTYPE Ltd.

t’s hard to say whether the highlight of the night was Eddie Barber (1964) wielding his gavel so enthusiastically that he broke some of the Reform Club’s finest crockery, or the passionate exhortation by GOBS president John Coyle (1964) to take full advantage of the many “Glenstal merchandising opportunities” present, but there is one thing that we all agreed on – the London Reunion was a superb idea, brilliantly executed, and definitely the beginnings of a true tradition! Hats off to both Gearoid and Eddie for all their work.

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Watched over by a picture of Fr. Athanasius, over 40 old boys gathered in the distinguished surrounds of the Reform Club (founded in 1836 by Daniel O’Connell), to a black-tie dinner, hosted by Fr. Andrew, Br. Denis, Eddie and “El Presidente” Coyle. Br. Timothy was unfortunately unable to come at the last minute and was sorely missed. What made the evening particularly memorable was not simply the effort that many made to come from a variety of locations, but also what an impressive range of years was represented, ranging from 1947 (David Minch) to 2002 (John Halton). After a champagne reception, and the distribution of pre-printed name-badges (thanks Gearoid!), we settled down to the U-shaped table, with seating arranged in chronological order. No prizes for guessing which side of the

A.G.M. GLENSTAL SOCIETY Sunday, April 22nd 2007 ■ 10.00 Mass with the School ■ 11.00 Coffee ■ 11.45 AGM ■ 1.30 Lunch COME FOR ALL – OR ANY PART OF THE DAY. PLEASE NOTIFY IF COMING TO LUNCH. We have not held an AGM for 18 months. It is important that this one is a success.

room made more noise … The dinner was to the highest standards, starting with Gravadlax, and progressing onto Filet Mignon that satisfied the hungriest in the room. As soon as the chocolate cake was polished off, out came the port and the first of the merchandising opportunities – Glenstal Liqueurs! Aided by the port, El Presidente moved the evening into a “committee meeting” to decide on similar future events. When the “kids” were accused of being unresponsive, we were ably represented by Mark Carrigan (1995) who gave a moving soliloquy. It was agreed that a small group of London based members would organise next years event around the same time again, early November 2007. The launch of the new Scholarship Award Fund was presented Br. Denis and John Coyle emphasised the importance of giving something back to the school, particularly in the form of the scholarship program, which was greeted with enthusiasm. Having started at 7.15pm., the tables started to clear by 11pm., but when I left at 1.15am., the conversation between Eddie Barber, Gearoid Bradley, Seamus Corballis and Charlie Bidwell seemed to have many hours left in it. Stopping only to purchase a high-quality 100% silk GOBS tie (bargain prices, and perfect Christmas presents!), and politely

Wedding Bells Brian Mehigan (1989) & Emily Campbell Dominic Morrogh (1992) & Tara Bedi Tom Magnier (1999) & Sophie Penfold Robin Hillman (1983) & Susan Mooney John Scott (1991) & Bernadette Wallace

JUST PUBLISHED ANDREW NUGENT

SECOND BURIAL Hodder Headline/Amazon

declining yet another glass of port from Eddie, I made my way out into the brisk London night, already looking forward to the next London GOBS Reunion. Edgar Senior (1987-1993) COPY OF EMAIL TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE DINNER IN LONDON LAST NOVEMBER t is with great sadness that I have to inform you that our host of the dinner last November in the Reform Club,London, Eddie Barber, died suddenly on Wednesday

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What a night and what a character. ... Eddie, was a bigger than life character, who cherished his Glenstal years and in particular his friendship with his fellow classmates Eddy McGrath (Br. Timothy) and John Coyle, and with Fr. Mark in the Monastery. Eddie was totally committed to revitalise the Glenstal Society network in the UK and offered to assist anyone he could. We owe it to him to continue this. At this sad time our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family and very large extended group of friends. With kind regards, Gearoid Bradley

SPORTS STAR Ian Nagle of the current VI class has been selected for the U19 Irish Rugby Team. Is he the first to wear the Green Jersey for Rugby since John Blayney V Scotland in the Senior Team (1950)? We wish Ian all the very best!


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