4 GLENSTAL NEWSLETTER Autumn 2008
GERARD STAFFORD (1968 – 1974) Gerry died suddenly at home in Wexford in mid July 2008, aged just 52. It is difficult to avoid eulogizing someone like Gerry. Try as one might, no recollections of badness come to mind! He was certainly a model pupil in school, right from the start: bright, eager, dependable, diligent; and not much sign of “the devil within”. It is possible he was once caught red-handed in a major dorm raid, but the cause must have been just and the odds overwhelmingly against his side. Otherwise he would not have been interested. All this is not to say he was a swat or a goody goody, because he was neither. True, he did work hard at the books, but he played hard too, serving his time on the muddy field, until he found his niche at tennis. There he excelled with Borglike determination, despite a rather lumbering physique. He ably represented the school on the senior team at a time of intense competition. But he was up for any challenge: he even agreed to take on the title role of “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme”(as which Br. Patrick had mischieviously cast him), and went on to greater heights as the not-so-dead old man in Synge’s “The Shadow of the Glen”. But it was as a scholar of literature that he excelled. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the classic
PIANO Thanks to the generosity of the Old Boys on the 75th anniversary of the School, we are taking delivery of a new grand piano. It is a black Kawai, model RX2, just under six feet long, and three and a half years old. It has a keyboard range up to top c and a full complement of three pedals (sustaining, una corda and sostenuto). It has been supplied by Kleiser of Limerick. It will be an excellent practice piano for boys, especially for more advanced piano students who need a good grand piano and do not currently have one. It will be available for boys’ performances. It can be used for concerts by professional musicians, both in solo performances, instrumental and vocal recitals, and chamber music. Its value is not limited to the School and it can be used for monastic events (e.g. at the Easter Retreat). Cyprian Love O.S.B.
novelists and poets and was always keen to share his discoveries. He had himself a grand old-fashioned style of writing. He had produced his own magazine at the age of 12 which was “published” locally, and he later wrote a very moving short story concerning a boating tragedy in Clew Bay, which was published. He would no doubt have developed this talent to great heights, but he preferred more difficult challenges: not content with a good Leaving Certificate he pursued a number of ‘A’ Levels and finally took off after a brace of ‘S’ Levels when the rest of the class had escaped for the final school holidays. He then opted to study Economics at TCD (with a special interest in econometrics, if you don’t mind). It was while at college that out of the blue he suffered a major breakdown in his mental health, which led to many long spells in hospital and dogged his progress thereafter. True to form, Gerry came back to complete his primary degree, but because of recurrent illness could not continue with further academic study nor pursue a vigorous career. He suffered chronic depression and was consequently weighed down by medication. He accepted this fate with uncomplaining stoicism, but he did not succumb to it. Instead, he turned his attentions to living a spiritual life and to helping others in need. In his quiet and persevering way he helped and comfort-
GOLF: 2008 lenstal Old Boys Golfing calendar has been very full in 2008. It began with the annual UIS (Union of Irish Schools) competition held in Milltown in April of this year. The competition is in foursomes format against other schools. Glenstal has won this a few years ago and has been striving manfully to repeat this great glory. The team performed very well, and came a respectable 7th of some 30 schools competing.
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In June the annual match between Glenstal Old Boys and Clongowes was held in Portmarnock GC. The trophy (presented by Past president Pat O’Connor) had been lost to Clongowes in 2007. The match was played in glorious conditions and good spirits on the old links with the team of G Bradley, PF O’Reilly, P. Crerar and M. Hutch just pinching a closely fought contest on the last green. The trophy is reposing in the safe hands of the Golf Society’s secretary Peter Crerar until next year! The annual Old Boys outing was held on the 17th of July in the Castle Golf Club.
ed all he came in contact with. If you want proof just ask around. Those many people are his monument. Happily, in his thirties Gerry found Marion and married her. She and indeed her family opened up a new world for him. He travelled widely with Marion and resumed collecting books to add to his very substantial library. He even discovered an interest in racehorses. Well, at a class reunion, late in the evening he once cajoled a number of his friends to invest in one of his finds: a young gelding he subtly called the Legionary (from his long association with the Legion of Mary) with “untold potential as a steeplechaser”– except for an unshakeable refusal to jump! It must also be recorded that the venture was, in fact, to secretly help a friend in need, and he reimbursed the investors in full! His death came as a grievous blow to Marion, her family, his brother Philip and his friends. It was a wake-up call to his classmates, too! But despite the intense sadness of the event, those who came to bid farewell to him as he lay at his home in Kerlogue will affirm that there was no air of gloom and doom about the house but a wonderful air of peace and calm. He had fought the good fight, and had not been defeated. Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no dominion. Michael A. Counihan (1974)
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CELEBRATING 75 YEARS “That is why your parents have chosen this school. That is why, for over 75 years, generations of parents have chosen this school. Because they believed it to be a place of the most delicate engraving and the most accomplished engraving. A place where your lives will surely come to blossom in the way which God intended” President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, addressing students in Glenstal, May 12th 2008.
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he 75th Anniversary Committee met for the first time in October 2007 to plan how best to mark the 75th Jubilee of the foundation of a school at Glenstal. Seven months later, almost one thousand people had attended the various events organised to celebrate this auspicious event in the history of the school. Greater numbers would have attended if space had been available. These events were attended by current students, current staff, former staff members, Old Boys, parents of current and past students, as well as Friends of Glenstal – all testifying to their continued support for the distinctive culture of the monastic school at Glenstal.
JUST PUBLISHED (in Ireland & U.K.) Andrew Nugent, SOUL MURDER (U.S. Sept. 2009)
It was appropriate that in this Jubilee Year so many people would be reconnected with the school and resolutely affirm their support for its work. The Ireland of today is substantially different to that of 1932. Nevertheless, the Benedictine educational tradition has provided over the last 75 years for the continued development of students as individuals and for the formation of their characters within a close-knit family environment amid unrivalled surroundings. For 75 years this investment in young people at Glenstal has helped nourish a value system that has served the students themselves, their families and the wider community. In an increasingly secular world, where Christian culture is being progressively replaced by materialism, the presence of the Abbey’s large monastic community and its continued support for the school as a significant work of the monastery has offered an experience and education in Christian life to all who live, work and even visit the school.
Edited by Andrew Nugent osb Layout & Print by INTYPE Ltd.
Attendance by so many at the Jubilee celebrations served as a resounding affirmation of support to the monastic
It was well attended by 30 old boys covering a span of 60 years from the forties to the naughties! The competition was fiercely contested, with the winning score only separated on the last six holes. Well done to Walter Halley (H’Cap 9) our 2008 winner who pipped Mark Timmons (H Cap 2). The day was well supported by various sponsers including:Henry Andersons Baccus Wines, Ronnie Cosgrave, Legs, Paul Harvey, Des Fulham (hard luck Des!) and not forgetting the current Vice Captain of Rathsallagh Johnnie Mullan. The Golf outing will be played on a Friday in 2009 to ensure maximum attendance and will definitely be confirmed on the Old Boys website. Apologies for the lack of information on the site this year. Peter Crerar, Golf Society Secretary.
President McAleese's visit to Glenstal Abbey School in May last. In this photo she is being introduced by Headmaster, Br. Denis to future School Captain, Paul Comerford. community for its continued commitment to post-primary education in Ireland, as well as a mark of appreciation to them for allowing the school be such an important part of the monastery’s life. In conclusion, we look to the challenges ahead with confidence. We have a small but highly-committed and dedicated team of staff. Our enrolment numbers are very strong. We have an ambitious building programme planned. Our Scholarship Award scheme goes from
strength to strength, thanks in large measure to the generosity of our Old Boys. I leave you with the final words from our President, Mary McAleese: “May the next 75 years be blessed, whatever they bring. The last 75 years have been truly wonderful and of the next 75 years we can say with some comfort and confidence, that the best is yet to come” Miriam McElligott, Chairperson, 75th Anniversary Committee
Glenstal Society AGM 2008 he AGM was held on Sunday May 4th 2008, which was Ascension Day. After Mass, with Chief Celebrant Fr. Luke Macnamara (1988) – but without the boys who were on leave – we assembled in the Monastery Library for our meeting. There were 24 participants, the elder statesman being Billy Hederman (1945), and the new blood being represented by Allen Nicholson (2001). Abbot Christopher attended, and also Abbot Celestine, briefly back from his mission station in Kylemore. The attendance was smallish because, the same evening, there was to be a festive dinner in a marquee to celebrate the Seventy-Five
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Years of the School – and not everyone thought it wise to burn the candle at both ends. Noel O’Gorman, in his President’s Report, made special mention of the London Dinner, which was held in November in the Army and Navy Club, a very pleasant and enjoyable occasion. He also commented appreciatively upon the differnt events to mark the 75th Anniversary of the School, and on the initiatives for the less fortunate represented by the Scholarship Fund and Fr. John’s projected visit to Tanzania with some of the boys. Continued overleaf.