2012winter

GLNL aut12 PRINT

4/11/12

6:22 PM

Page 1

4 GLENSTAL NEWSLETTER Autumn 2012

JOHN McLAUGHLIN (1947-1950) ged 15, John McLaughlin came to Glenstal in 1947 from Buncrana, Co Donegal. In those days it took him two days to reach Murroe, including a night at the North Star hotel opposite Connelly Station. He had been a boarder at St. Colum’s College, Derry, a school that has produced many famous people, including Seamus Heaney and John F. Deane. He had been diagnosed as suffering from a cardiac deformity. It was therefore felt that Glenstal, being a school with a somewhat easier lifestyle – as he confirmed himself – would be more suitable for him.

there and had ample opportunity for his customary pranks.

But he was not wasting his time. He secured an excellent First Class Honours MA on graduation.

John became part of a coterie, inspired in part by Dom Paul McDonnell, not necessarily with the approval of the Head Master, Fr. Matthew Dillon. This group became known as the Council of Thought, nick name for an eccentric group who built huts in the woods and dressed up in bizarre gowns to aid their unusual rituals. Extremely intelligent, and gifted with an incisive mind, John was also endowed with an acerbic sense of humour.

John spent the next 30 years running these businesses.

During that time, and particularly thereafter, he was an extensive traveller in Europe, especially in Mediterranean countries and the near East, enabling him to familiarise himself with many Benedictine foundations.

A

Leaving Glenstal in 1950, he entered UCD to pursue an Honours Degree in Economics and Politics under the famous economist, Professor George O’Brien. At this time Fr. Matthew was establishing the Benedictine University Hostel in Palmerstown Park. John greatly enjoyed himself

Professor O’Brien obtained through Sir Maurice Bowra, the Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a place for John to undertake post graduate work. Unhappily, his father had suffered a severe stroke, and John had to return to Buncrana to take over the extensive family businesses there and also in Kilkenny.

Eventually, at a good vintage, the cardiac problem that had caused his dispatch to Glenstal sent him to his eternal reward towards the end of last year. He will be greatly missed by the people of Buncrana where he was much admired and respected, and also by his surviving classmates of so many years ago.

Diarmuid Teevan (1944-50)

MICHAEL McCARTHY RIP (1963-1970) Message to the Class of 1970 from Gearoid Bradley

I

t is with sadness that I inform you that our good friend and colleague Michael (Mick) McCarthy died last week (July 18th) in the Blackrock Hospice, after a year long struggle with cancer.

We all have many happy and fond memories of Mick both from school and for those who also met him again in recent years.

There was a beautiful funeral ceremony on Saturday where Mick’s generosity and kindness was recalled along with his great interest in planes, politics and in particular Cuba, where his girlfriend lives, but who could not get a visa to attend the funeral.

His two great friends from school, Seamus Corballis and Paddy Egan fortunately met with Mick a few weeks before he passed away for lunch, and recollected their many happy years in Glenstal and their membership of the local FCA and other exploits.

Let us Remember Noel Healy (1944-1949), Father of Dan, Brother of Fr. Kevin (†) & Louis Lord Peter Patrick Hemphill (19451947) Patrick Stokes (1943-1948) Pat Branigan (1953-1957) Michael (Mick) McCarthy (1963-1970)

www.myubique.com info@myubique.com

A number of our class attended the funeral – Adrian, Geoff, Seamus, Gearoid, Aubrey, Basil C, John O’Brien and Seymour Cresswell.

Michael’s immediate family were his sole sister Pam (McHugh) and her family, husband Stan and their three children, along with his Cuban girlfriend Yaimarelys.

Most of us were totally unaware that Mick was ill, and it was the common topic both with most of those who attended the funeral and other GOBS members I have since spoken to or met. Many would have dearly loved to have visited Mick during his illness and shown their support and concern for him.

I think as a small group, it would be really wonderful if we could in future, make the effort to inform our fellow classmates whenever one hears that a fellow colleague is in such a similar situation. You can either contact me or get in touch with Fr Andrew in Glenstal or Greg Ashe and they can arrange to send a message to all of the class of 1970, which is very easily done.

Nicholas Healy (1958-1962) Blaise Downey (1948-1953) Paddy Lorigan, Father of Brian and Damien James Willcox Berridge, Father of Dominic, Grandfather of Richard & Charles Doreen Lord, Mother of John (†), Tony, Richard, and Peter

Esme Dwyer, Wife of George Lelia Donnelly, Mother of Chris, Nicholas & James; Sister of James McGuire Philomena Brereton, Mother of Denis Edited by Andrew Nugent osb Layout & Print by INTYPE Ltd.

Building for Glenstal Q & A with the Headmaster Q It seems strange to be building in this economic climate. Aren’t numbers falling ?

A

No. Numbers aren’t falling. In fact, they are rising. It’s true that things were looking uncertain when the recession started. A lot of people got a fright, and numbers were down for a while.

I remember appealing to both parents and Old Boys during my first year in office to spread good news about the school wherever they could. They seem to have done that quite well.

Over the past few years we’ve had to deal with two contrasting ideas which have impacted on enrolments. Some people seemed to be uncertain as to whether the school would continue at all, while others seemed to think that there was no point in applying unless their son was registered the day he was born! Of course, neither was true.

Glenstal Abbey School is here to stay, but also, to use Enda Kenny’s phrase, people need to know that we ‘are open for business’. That message seems to be getting out. We’ve had the benefit of lots of positive publicity in the past few years, with excellent academic results, an Irish Times feature, and Mass broadcast on TV

by Eurovision all bringing the school to people’s attention. Numbers are up almost 10% on last year, and the number of people registering and looking for brochures is at an all-time high.

Q The school mustn’t be the same with Day-Boarders now ?

A

Glenstal Abbey School has a very particular ethos and atmosphere. It is important that this is protected and preserved. But that doesn’t mean that things should never change. We have deliberately kept the number of day-boarders small so that the character of the school as a residential community, with major student participation in Sunday Mass, isn’t eroded. The day-boarders are here for lunch and supper too and take a full part in games and activities. All they miss out on really is the dorm-raiding!

I should also point out that the number of full boarders is also up. Day-boarders

The new building will concentrate the school’s teaching, learning and studying in one area, with state of the art classrooms, laboratories and music rooms.

The design is stunning, with a glazed façade looking out over ‘Glenside’, towards the Lady Garden. That the not-solovely ‘New Wing’ is being significantly re-modelled is also a very good thing!

The Terrace side of the ‘New Wing’, and the Terrace itself, are also being given a facelift, and there will be an imposing new entrance and reception area on the Terrace-side. I’m very excited by the project.

Q Why are you telling Old Boys about all of this ?

A

Martin Browne OSB are not just a way of making up the shortfall, and no more than one-third of the places in any year will be for them. At the same time, numbers are important.

With the constant erosion of state support for schools like ours, we need to have enough students to ensure that we are both educationally and financially viable.

Q What are you building ?

A

We’re building an academic block.

Sleeping accommodation will have to wait till later. Teaching spaces are a much more urgent need. At the moment, we have classes being taught in all kinds of odd places, including prefabs and sheds from the 1920s, all spread out over a huge footprint.

Well, in the first place, we’re telling you because we want you to know...

This is a hugely significant and important moment in the history of your alma mater and we want to tell you about it!

At the same time, we’re also telling you because we hope that Old Boys will support the project financially. The monastic community plans to take on a significant bank loan, but we also need to raise approximately €2m in donations.

We’ve already raised a good portion of that, but there’s still quite a way to go.

The community will be voting in the middle of November, and we need to show by then that we can finance the project. Most of what we’ve raised so far has come from parents. I’m very grateful to them and the Old Boys who have contributed so far. We have €1.3m at this stage. And so I’m taking this further opportunity to remind Old Boys about the project, to answer some questions which have been raised, and to ask for your support.

GLNL aut12 PRINT

4/11/12

6:22 PM

Page 2

2 GLENSTAL NEWSLETTER Autumn 2012

Autumn 2012 GLENSTAL NEWSLETTER 3

Life in the Promised Land of the Far East

A

lthough I have been living in the relative comfort of London for some time, my mind is increasingly drawn back to two and a half years I spent living in China. China continues to enter my thoughts, not because of the country’s poor livability ratings, but because of its continuing global ascendancy in the face of Western austerity. For any of you toying with the idea of relocating East in search of the endless promises of prosperity, I would have little problem encouraging you – but would add a few words of caution.

I spent my time living in Shanghai with a more than occasional commute to Beijing for work. In terms of character, Shanghai is to New York what Beijing is to Washington. Like all China both these cities are wonderfully engaging and not a day will pass without event or adventure, and although not always positive, these are certainly all memorable.

The country is surprisingly fluid and dynamic and this new hybrid commercial-communist approach has many advantages over the West’s bureaucratic, short-term, re-election-orientated approaches. However such un-

A Vintage Year he class of 1987 held their twenty fifth year reunion in the Ely Wine Bar, IFSC, Dublin 1 on the 14th of April 2012. The decision to hold a reunion five years after the last one came about when Michael Daly emailed to say he would be visiting Ireland in April from his current base in Brisbane. He regaled us with stories of sun, swimming and economic buoyancy – and looked 25 himself! Those of us living here and in need of Botox told him of the floods, household charges and the IMF. Rupert Fennelly travelled from New York, Tom McCann from Scotland, and Justin Murphy all the way from Roscommon.

T

We recalled midnight barbeques in the Glen, cycling to and swimming in the Clare Glens, and events best not mentioned here. We all agreed that Glenstal was very like Hogwarts and that Fr Andrew was Dumbledore.

challengeable governance is the area where anyone considering China for business must be most cautious.

While our company experienced success in China, we certainly have the war wounds to prove it isn’t always fair game. You will always be an outsider doing business on their terms and only for so long as the relationship is mutually beneficial. Always find ways to justify your participation and be seen to be giving back to the country or community through social or philanthropic projects.

Congratulations to Peadar Brehony who has been awarded the Graduate of the Year Medal from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences in University College Cork.

He was also awarded a First Class Honours Degree, and to top it all, he was awarded the Maire F. Mulcahy Prize for the top Zoology Graduate.

Peadar is well-known in the school. He has helped train the 5th Year students for their Yearly trips to Tanzania. He spent a large part of his younger years growing up in Tanzania and in four other African countries where his parents were working with Aid Agencies. During his years in Glenstal he participated in a wide range of sports. His natural speed saw him beat many an opponent on the outside in classical Wing fashion.

Life outside work is always exciting, and you will rarely find yourself sitting at home with nothing to do or missing your Sky Plus. China is a hotpot of cultural and epicurean experiences coupled with enough of an ex-pat scene to retreat to when you need the comfort of an Irish voice.

What life in China ultimately comes down to is a struggle to balance the joy of endless experiences and the feeling of living a full life against the acceptance you are not in Kansas anymore and family events, old friends and reunions are a thing of the past, and will be much missed.

Peadar is currently in Perth, Australia as part of his postGraduate World Tour year and he hopes to return to Ireland in the next couple of months. We look forward to a visit from him on his return.

David Twohig 1991-1997 European Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, and a member of the EU Economic and Social Committee. His appointment marks a new stage in the developing trade links between Belgium and Ireland.

South-East Reunion A South East reunion took place on Sat 31st March last in the Donoughmore Club, Clonmel, which was founded in 1845. A first class dinner was served in the long room, followed by a small drop of Benedictine. The unique feature of the event was that there were Old Boys from the fifties right up to the nineties which added greatly to the mix.

Fr. Andrew Nugent and President Henry Blake were guests of honour and a great night was had by all. The organizing committee were: Chairman Paul Morris, Nicky Shee, Noel O’Gorman, Hubert Burke, Eddie and Paul Murphy.

Michael French Davis was working in Tipperary on the night but made a mad dash to the restaurant to grab the last few hours. He was last seen arm in arm with Justin, Bartley and Tom Walsh singing “all the way back Glen”.

Colm O’Cochlain

The Honorary Consul

Henry Blake, Cianán Fennessy, and Hubert Burke

ARTHUR’S DAY

Icon Chapel Prayer It is just twenty five years since the weekly Icon Chapel Prayer began at the request of some Senior boys – though, to be exact, it was held at first in the Sacristy, as the Icon Chapel came only a year later. If you got involved in your time, it would be of interest to those who have kept it going to know whether any of its influence, if not actual practice, has remained with you. Your memories of the past may be formative for the future. An e-mail to one of the brethren concerned could be helpful.

Fr Mark’s Last Book Longing to Belong is a life of Abbot Mayeul de Caigny, founder of Mount St. Benedict Monastery on the Island of Trinidad, which now belongs to the same Benedictine Congregation as Glenstal. It is a fascinating story, superbly told. This is Fr. Mark at his very best, both for his understanding of a very complex character, who inspired differing and conflicting reactions during his long and eventful life, as also for the author’s masterful use of very extensive and geographically far-flung archives. Fr. Mark died when the book was almost completed.The finishing touches are the work of Filip Vandenbussche, a relative of Abbot Mayeul.

The book is already available on Amazon.com and Amazon. co.uk at about €30.

Wedding Bells

John Coyle (1959-1964) has been appointed Honorary Consul of Belgium at a ceremony in Galway City Hall in the presence of the Belgian Ambassador, Robert Devriese and the City Mayor Terry O’Flaherty.

John spent time in Bruges as a post-grad student in the College of Europe. He was also Vice-President of the

Peadar Brehony (2007) Graduate of the Year from U.C.C., 2012

Richard Roche-Garland (1991) & Geraldine McGee Patrick Neilan (1997) & Rachel Semple Brian McElligott (1997) & Alveen Doran O’Reilly Paul Cullen (1999) & Jennifer Lee Michael Fitzgibbon (2000) & Deirdre Cussen Eóin Ó Suilleabháin (1998) & Andrea Laidman

A

rthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe (2008) had the distinction to become only the 3rd Glenstal Olympian (that we are aware of) to represent Ireland. By chance or coincidence he competed in the same event as the Hartigan brothers, Mark (1972) and Jerome (1975), who competed in the Modern Pentathlon in Moscow in 1980. Arthur missed out on selection from the European Rankings by just one place. He got a late call up when a Polish athlete failed a routine drug test. He finished 25th out of 36 World Class athletes. This Olympic experience proved invaluable as Arthur went on to take the Bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in Poland in September, securing Ireland’s first ever medal in a truly challenging event. Roll on Rio...

GLNL aut12 PRINT

4/11/12

6:22 PM

Page 2

2 GLENSTAL NEWSLETTER Autumn 2012

Autumn 2012 GLENSTAL NEWSLETTER 3

Life in the Promised Land of the Far East

A

lthough I have been living in the relative comfort of London for some time, my mind is increasingly drawn back to two and a half years I spent living in China. China continues to enter my thoughts, not because of the country’s poor livability ratings, but because of its continuing global ascendancy in the face of Western austerity. For any of you toying with the idea of relocating East in search of the endless promises of prosperity, I would have little problem encouraging you – but would add a few words of caution.

I spent my time living in Shanghai with a more than occasional commute to Beijing for work. In terms of character, Shanghai is to New York what Beijing is to Washington. Like all China both these cities are wonderfully engaging and not a day will pass without event or adventure, and although not always positive, these are certainly all memorable.

The country is surprisingly fluid and dynamic and this new hybrid commercial-communist approach has many advantages over the West’s bureaucratic, short-term, re-election-orientated approaches. However such un-

A Vintage Year he class of 1987 held their twenty fifth year reunion in the Ely Wine Bar, IFSC, Dublin 1 on the 14th of April 2012. The decision to hold a reunion five years after the last one came about when Michael Daly emailed to say he would be visiting Ireland in April from his current base in Brisbane. He regaled us with stories of sun, swimming and economic buoyancy – and looked 25 himself! Those of us living here and in need of Botox told him of the floods, household charges and the IMF. Rupert Fennelly travelled from New York, Tom McCann from Scotland, and Justin Murphy all the way from Roscommon.

T

We recalled midnight barbeques in the Glen, cycling to and swimming in the Clare Glens, and events best not mentioned here. We all agreed that Glenstal was very like Hogwarts and that Fr Andrew was Dumbledore.

challengeable governance is the area where anyone considering China for business must be most cautious.

While our company experienced success in China, we certainly have the war wounds to prove it isn’t always fair game. You will always be an outsider doing business on their terms and only for so long as the relationship is mutually beneficial. Always find ways to justify your participation and be seen to be giving back to the country or community through social or philanthropic projects.

Congratulations to Peadar Brehony who has been awarded the Graduate of the Year Medal from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences in University College Cork.

He was also awarded a First Class Honours Degree, and to top it all, he was awarded the Maire F. Mulcahy Prize for the top Zoology Graduate.

Peadar is well-known in the school. He has helped train the 5th Year students for their Yearly trips to Tanzania. He spent a large part of his younger years growing up in Tanzania and in four other African countries where his parents were working with Aid Agencies. During his years in Glenstal he participated in a wide range of sports. His natural speed saw him beat many an opponent on the outside in classical Wing fashion.

Life outside work is always exciting, and you will rarely find yourself sitting at home with nothing to do or missing your Sky Plus. China is a hotpot of cultural and epicurean experiences coupled with enough of an ex-pat scene to retreat to when you need the comfort of an Irish voice.

What life in China ultimately comes down to is a struggle to balance the joy of endless experiences and the feeling of living a full life against the acceptance you are not in Kansas anymore and family events, old friends and reunions are a thing of the past, and will be much missed.

Peadar is currently in Perth, Australia as part of his postGraduate World Tour year and he hopes to return to Ireland in the next couple of months. We look forward to a visit from him on his return.

David Twohig 1991-1997 European Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, and a member of the EU Economic and Social Committee. His appointment marks a new stage in the developing trade links between Belgium and Ireland.

South-East Reunion A South East reunion took place on Sat 31st March last in the Donoughmore Club, Clonmel, which was founded in 1845. A first class dinner was served in the long room, followed by a small drop of Benedictine. The unique feature of the event was that there were Old Boys from the fifties right up to the nineties which added greatly to the mix.

Fr. Andrew Nugent and President Henry Blake were guests of honour and a great night was had by all. The organizing committee were: Chairman Paul Morris, Nicky Shee, Noel O’Gorman, Hubert Burke, Eddie and Paul Murphy.

Michael French Davis was working in Tipperary on the night but made a mad dash to the restaurant to grab the last few hours. He was last seen arm in arm with Justin, Bartley and Tom Walsh singing “all the way back Glen”.

Colm O’Cochlain

The Honorary Consul

Henry Blake, Cianán Fennessy, and Hubert Burke

ARTHUR’S DAY

Icon Chapel Prayer It is just twenty five years since the weekly Icon Chapel Prayer began at the request of some Senior boys – though, to be exact, it was held at first in the Sacristy, as the Icon Chapel came only a year later. If you got involved in your time, it would be of interest to those who have kept it going to know whether any of its influence, if not actual practice, has remained with you. Your memories of the past may be formative for the future. An e-mail to one of the brethren concerned could be helpful.

Fr Mark’s Last Book Longing to Belong is a life of Abbot Mayeul de Caigny, founder of Mount St. Benedict Monastery on the Island of Trinidad, which now belongs to the same Benedictine Congregation as Glenstal. It is a fascinating story, superbly told. This is Fr. Mark at his very best, both for his understanding of a very complex character, who inspired differing and conflicting reactions during his long and eventful life, as also for the author’s masterful use of very extensive and geographically far-flung archives. Fr. Mark died when the book was almost completed.The finishing touches are the work of Filip Vandenbussche, a relative of Abbot Mayeul.

The book is already available on Amazon.com and Amazon. co.uk at about €30.

Wedding Bells

John Coyle (1959-1964) has been appointed Honorary Consul of Belgium at a ceremony in Galway City Hall in the presence of the Belgian Ambassador, Robert Devriese and the City Mayor Terry O’Flaherty.

John spent time in Bruges as a post-grad student in the College of Europe. He was also Vice-President of the

Peadar Brehony (2007) Graduate of the Year from U.C.C., 2012

Richard Roche-Garland (1991) & Geraldine McGee Patrick Neilan (1997) & Rachel Semple Brian McElligott (1997) & Alveen Doran O’Reilly Paul Cullen (1999) & Jennifer Lee Michael Fitzgibbon (2000) & Deirdre Cussen Eóin Ó Suilleabháin (1998) & Andrea Laidman

A

rthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe (2008) had the distinction to become only the 3rd Glenstal Olympian (that we are aware of) to represent Ireland. By chance or coincidence he competed in the same event as the Hartigan brothers, Mark (1972) and Jerome (1975), who competed in the Modern Pentathlon in Moscow in 1980. Arthur missed out on selection from the European Rankings by just one place. He got a late call up when a Polish athlete failed a routine drug test. He finished 25th out of 36 World Class athletes. This Olympic experience proved invaluable as Arthur went on to take the Bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in Poland in September, securing Ireland’s first ever medal in a truly challenging event. Roll on Rio...

GLNL aut12 PRINT

4/11/12

6:22 PM

Page 1

4 GLENSTAL NEWSLETTER Autumn 2012

JOHN McLAUGHLIN (1947-1950) ged 15, John McLaughlin came to Glenstal in 1947 from Buncrana, Co Donegal. In those days it took him two days to reach Murroe, including a night at the North Star hotel opposite Connelly Station. He had been a boarder at St. Colum’s College, Derry, a school that has produced many famous people, including Seamus Heaney and John F. Deane. He had been diagnosed as suffering from a cardiac deformity. It was therefore felt that Glenstal, being a school with a somewhat easier lifestyle – as he confirmed himself – would be more suitable for him.

there and had ample opportunity for his customary pranks.

But he was not wasting his time. He secured an excellent First Class Honours MA on graduation.

John became part of a coterie, inspired in part by Dom Paul McDonnell, not necessarily with the approval of the Head Master, Fr. Matthew Dillon. This group became known as the Council of Thought, nick name for an eccentric group who built huts in the woods and dressed up in bizarre gowns to aid their unusual rituals. Extremely intelligent, and gifted with an incisive mind, John was also endowed with an acerbic sense of humour.

John spent the next 30 years running these businesses.

During that time, and particularly thereafter, he was an extensive traveller in Europe, especially in Mediterranean countries and the near East, enabling him to familiarise himself with many Benedictine foundations.

A

Leaving Glenstal in 1950, he entered UCD to pursue an Honours Degree in Economics and Politics under the famous economist, Professor George O’Brien. At this time Fr. Matthew was establishing the Benedictine University Hostel in Palmerstown Park. John greatly enjoyed himself

Professor O’Brien obtained through Sir Maurice Bowra, the Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a place for John to undertake post graduate work. Unhappily, his father had suffered a severe stroke, and John had to return to Buncrana to take over the extensive family businesses there and also in Kilkenny.

Eventually, at a good vintage, the cardiac problem that had caused his dispatch to Glenstal sent him to his eternal reward towards the end of last year. He will be greatly missed by the people of Buncrana where he was much admired and respected, and also by his surviving classmates of so many years ago.

Diarmuid Teevan (1944-50)

MICHAEL McCARTHY RIP (1963-1970) Message to the Class of 1970 from Gearoid Bradley

I

t is with sadness that I inform you that our good friend and colleague Michael (Mick) McCarthy died last week (July 18th) in the Blackrock Hospice, after a year long struggle with cancer.

We all have many happy and fond memories of Mick both from school and for those who also met him again in recent years.

There was a beautiful funeral ceremony on Saturday where Mick’s generosity and kindness was recalled along with his great interest in planes, politics and in particular Cuba, where his girlfriend lives, but who could not get a visa to attend the funeral.

His two great friends from school, Seamus Corballis and Paddy Egan fortunately met with Mick a few weeks before he passed away for lunch, and recollected their many happy years in Glenstal and their membership of the local FCA and other exploits.

Let us Remember Noel Healy (1944-1949), Father of Dan, Brother of Fr. Kevin (†) & Louis Lord Peter Patrick Hemphill (19451947) Patrick Stokes (1943-1948) Pat Branigan (1953-1957) Michael (Mick) McCarthy (1963-1970)

www.myubique.com info@myubique.com

A number of our class attended the funeral – Adrian, Geoff, Seamus, Gearoid, Aubrey, Basil C, John O’Brien and Seymour Cresswell.

Michael’s immediate family were his sole sister Pam (McHugh) and her family, husband Stan and their three children, along with his Cuban girlfriend Yaimarelys.

Most of us were totally unaware that Mick was ill, and it was the common topic both with most of those who attended the funeral and other GOBS members I have since spoken to or met. Many would have dearly loved to have visited Mick during his illness and shown their support and concern for him.

I think as a small group, it would be really wonderful if we could in future, make the effort to inform our fellow classmates whenever one hears that a fellow colleague is in such a similar situation. You can either contact me or get in touch with Fr Andrew in Glenstal or Greg Ashe and they can arrange to send a message to all of the class of 1970, which is very easily done.

Nicholas Healy (1958-1962) Blaise Downey (1948-1953) Paddy Lorigan, Father of Brian and Damien James Willcox Berridge, Father of Dominic, Grandfather of Richard & Charles Doreen Lord, Mother of John (†), Tony, Richard, and Peter

Esme Dwyer, Wife of George Lelia Donnelly, Mother of Chris, Nicholas & James; Sister of James McGuire Philomena Brereton, Mother of Denis Edited by Andrew Nugent osb Layout & Print by INTYPE Ltd.

Building for Glenstal Q & A with the Headmaster Q It seems strange to be building in this economic climate. Aren’t numbers falling ?

A

No. Numbers aren’t falling. In fact, they are rising. It’s true that things were looking uncertain when the recession started. A lot of people got a fright, and numbers were down for a while.

I remember appealing to both parents and Old Boys during my first year in office to spread good news about the school wherever they could. They seem to have done that quite well.

Over the past few years we’ve had to deal with two contrasting ideas which have impacted on enrolments. Some people seemed to be uncertain as to whether the school would continue at all, while others seemed to think that there was no point in applying unless their son was registered the day he was born! Of course, neither was true.

Glenstal Abbey School is here to stay, but also, to use Enda Kenny’s phrase, people need to know that we ‘are open for business’. That message seems to be getting out. We’ve had the benefit of lots of positive publicity in the past few years, with excellent academic results, an Irish Times feature, and Mass broadcast on TV

by Eurovision all bringing the school to people’s attention. Numbers are up almost 10% on last year, and the number of people registering and looking for brochures is at an all-time high.

Q The school mustn’t be the same with Day-Boarders now ?

A

Glenstal Abbey School has a very particular ethos and atmosphere. It is important that this is protected and preserved. But that doesn’t mean that things should never change. We have deliberately kept the number of day-boarders small so that the character of the school as a residential community, with major student participation in Sunday Mass, isn’t eroded. The day-boarders are here for lunch and supper too and take a full part in games and activities. All they miss out on really is the dorm-raiding!

I should also point out that the number of full boarders is also up. Day-boarders

The new building will concentrate the school’s teaching, learning and studying in one area, with state of the art classrooms, laboratories and music rooms.

The design is stunning, with a glazed façade looking out over ‘Glenside’, towards the Lady Garden. That the not-solovely ‘New Wing’ is being significantly re-modelled is also a very good thing!

The Terrace side of the ‘New Wing’, and the Terrace itself, are also being given a facelift, and there will be an imposing new entrance and reception area on the Terrace-side. I’m very excited by the project.

Q Why are you telling Old Boys about all of this ?

A

Martin Browne OSB are not just a way of making up the shortfall, and no more than one-third of the places in any year will be for them. At the same time, numbers are important.

With the constant erosion of state support for schools like ours, we need to have enough students to ensure that we are both educationally and financially viable.

Q What are you building ?

A

We’re building an academic block.

Sleeping accommodation will have to wait till later. Teaching spaces are a much more urgent need. At the moment, we have classes being taught in all kinds of odd places, including prefabs and sheds from the 1920s, all spread out over a huge footprint.

Well, in the first place, we’re telling you because we want you to know...

This is a hugely significant and important moment in the history of your alma mater and we want to tell you about it!

At the same time, we’re also telling you because we hope that Old Boys will support the project financially. The monastic community plans to take on a significant bank loan, but we also need to raise approximately €2m in donations.

We’ve already raised a good portion of that, but there’s still quite a way to go.

The community will be voting in the middle of November, and we need to show by then that we can finance the project. Most of what we’ve raised so far has come from parents. I’m very grateful to them and the Old Boys who have contributed so far. We have €1.3m at this stage. And so I’m taking this further opportunity to remind Old Boys about the project, to answer some questions which have been raised, and to ask for your support.