1989 year reunion for Louis girls
ON Friday night I headed for the Lisdoo where the young ladies who sat their Leaving Certificate in 1987 in St. Louis School were having a reunion 29 years after they got their results and a huge crowd had turned up see their old classmates.
I was only in the door when I met up with Tia McParland from Kilkerley and Fiona Woods from Feede who told me they eventually recognised everyone and it was unbelievable to see them all there again.
Next I met up with Ruth Daly from Haggardstown and Juanita McArdle from Belfast who were having a great laugh together, but Juanita said had she had known the rest were looking so well after nearly 30 years, she’d have considered a face lift! They both assured me it was going to be anything but a quiet night.
I then headed over for a chat with Tara McDonnell from Newtownbalregan who said she didn’t recognise everyone, the faces maybe but definitely not the names. She said she had been friendly with many of the girls in university, but after that no really.
Three ladies who were having a great chat together were Donna Nordone from Blackrock, Dympna Coleman from Phillipstown and Juanita McEntegart from Kilcurry. Dymphna said she hadn’t seen many of the girls for the last 29 years because she moved abroad after her leaving cert. Juanita said she had been in primary and secondary school with Dymphna, because they had grown up together, but hadn’t seen her in years too and here was so much catching up to be done.
After this I got a word with Briege McConnon from Faughart who was in the predicament of recognising all the faces, but the names weren’t too forthcoming.
Next I had the pleasure of meeting up with main organiser Aileen Markey from Mount Avenue who told me she had moved away after her leaving cert and had only recently returned home from New York. She had been in contact with some through Facebook and when they decided to get together she initially thought it was going to be a few drinks in a pub, but once the ball got rolling, the Lisdoo was the ideal place for all to get together. She also wanted to thank Fran Williams and Briege McConnon for all their great work in making the night such a success.
I then headed over for a chat with Pamela Dowd originally from Blackrock but now living in Roscommon who was having the same faces and names dilemma. She was chatting to Suzanne Carroll from Ravensdale, Clodagh Curtis from Ravensdale, Sharon Rafferty from Kilcurry and Kelly Byrne from Ballybay who thought it was a great idea to get together and were having a major laugh, although there were a few old scores mentioned that may have needed to be investigated later on!
After this I headed over for a chat with Clodagh Smith from Bellewsbridge Road and Oonagh Greene from Kilcurry who were there with Aisling Hearty from Mill Road, Sandra McConville from Newtownbalregan and Donna Nordone who were busy renewing old friendships and having a right old laugh together.
I then ventured over for a word with Aishling O’Sullivan from Newry and Katriona Campbell rom Jenkinstown who said they recognised most of their class mates, but there were a few surprises.
Seated close by I then met up with Paula Kirk from Nicholas Avenue and Ann Kelly from Dublin Road who both agreed in was a nostalgic night and all the girls looked great and as they did all those years ago.
Finally, one girl that had really gone the extra mile was Fran Williams from Ard Easmuinn who had a booklet of photos and info from their Leaving Cert 6th Year lunch and it included a piece where they saw themselves in 20 years’ time which everyone got a copy of and they were all having a great laugh when I departed.