Scoil Mhuire class of '84 enjoy special reunion
Back: Asumpta Davis, Joan Conway, Hazel Hendy, Rita Mulhall, Pauline Moore, Sandra Quinn, Sheila Farrell, Jacinta Livingson and Helena Kelly Front: Mary Roche, Angela Quinn, Vivienne Kelly, Shirley Bambrick and Mary Nolan
There were old memories shared and some new ones made as old classmates celebrated a 40-year reunion in Athy recently.
The women attended the old Scoil Mhuire in Athy and were the first sixth years that moved into the new build that would become Ardscoil Na Tríonóide along with the boys of Scoil Eoin CBS.
“When we moved into it, the right-hand side was for the girls and the left-hand side was for the boys and never the two should meet!” said one of the reunion organisers Shirley Bambrick.
The night at the Old Shebeen hatched the mark 40th anniversary of the women’s leaving certificate year. A group of them got together and compiled a list of names and took to Facebook, contacting almost everyone almost everyone.
There was a great response although some couldn’t make the reunion due to prior plans while others lived abroad in England and the US.
“It was lovely to catch up with people,” said Shirley.
There were reminiscences of some great teachers and characters in the school and the like of Sister Dolores O’Grady, business teacher Mr Connor O’Carroll and Irish teacher Mairead Uí Cobhtaigh.
At lunchtime, students back then would walk around the town popping into shops or the chipper.
“The ones who were sneaking a cigarette would hang around the courthouse, all you see is smoke," remarked Shirly. "If a boy and a girl were going out together, they'd always go for a walk down the line and there would be talk of ‘did you see them going down the line’ … there was a lot of innocence!” It is planned to arrange another meet-up later this year for people who could not make it while a Whatsapp group has been established. “We really don't want to lose touch now,” said Shirley.
