1978 CLASS TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
On Saturday night I headed for Byrnes Lounge where a rather special reunion night was taking place. April 14th marked 40 years to the day when the St. Vincents Girls first held their Debs Ball and 50 ladies who had been part of that celebration, had had come together specially to make the occasion.
The group had met up earlier in the day for a tour of their old school to see what changes had taken place since the last time they were there and had found time to recreate their Debs photo from all those years ago. This was followed by a meal and a social night in Byrnes where I caught up with them and to say they were in great form would be somewhat of an understatement!
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up some of the organising committee who were Elizabeth Sloan from Dublin Road and Michelle Farrell from Greenwood Drive who told me that they, along with Moira Murtagh from Laurel Grove, Catriona Hande from Faughart, Gabrielle Tuomey from Lennonstown Manor, Fiona McKeown from Carrick Road and Sheila McDonald from Dublin Road had first met up in November with only the Debs photo from 1978 and set about contacting as many of them as they could. They used Whats App and Facebook to find their old schoolmates and everyone there on the night.
I then got talking to Moira Murtagh who told me about all the girls that hung round together for most of the time they were in St. Vincents called ‘O.G.’ and they included Siobhan McGuinness, Olivia Mathews, Catriona Hande, Deirdre McKeever, Breda Boland and the late Annmarie Carragher, were thick as thieves and most of them were there for the night.
I then headed or a table where I got talking to Sheila Rogers from Haggardstown, Michelle Callan from Redbarns Road and Catriona Hande from Upper Faughart who told me they had done the tour of the school, had got some great memories and were very impressed with the developments they’d made since they had been there, and were now making new memories for the next 40 year reunion!
I was lucky enough to meet Anna Dunne from Dromiskin who had been ‘ head girl’ and still had her badge. She said it as a fantastic day and she was seeing people she hadn’t seen in 40 years.
Next I headed over for a chat with Anne Flanagan from Dromiskin, Anne O’Reilly originally from Dublin Road but now a lecturer in the Dental Hospital and living in Dublin, Angela O’Donnell from Blackrock who said their classmates hadn’t changed all that much and it was really easy to recognise all their old classmates.
They were sitting with Marina Ní Threafaigh originally from Blackrock now from Castleblaney who said it was her first time back in the school in 40 years and it hadn’t changed that much but there were plenty of memories from the time, but she was really looking forward to the night with all her old school mates.
Next I got a word with Mary Shaw from Oaklawns who said it was her first time back too, there were many changes and she was still having a few problems recognising everyone but was looking forward to doing so.
After this I headed over for a chat with Gabrielle Tuomey from Lennonstown Manor who was sitting chatting to the girls’ French teacher Mary O’Rourke who was delighted to see them all again and said she did recognise all of them. They were enjoying the company of Geraldine Traynor from Donabate, Maria McGeough from Kilkerley and Anne Kilgallen from Donegal who told me about the stipulation regarding their dressed on the night back in 1978 and how one of the head girls lost her position after the debs!
Not too long later I caught up with Rita Arthur from Newry Road who told me she had really enjoyed the tour with her old classmates and it was great to see them all again.
Also in her company was Margaret Marrett from Annagassan who said she was delighted that everyone was wearing their nametags and had really enjoyed the tour because there had been so many great changes made to the school.
Next I headed for a table where I caught up with Maria Richardson from Dunleer, Bernadette Sheelan and Teresa McGuigan from Cooley who told me they used to sneak out to the Downtown Club on Friday nights and sometimes the Bananna Club and stay with Moira Murtagh in Hughes Park, unknown to their parents!
After this I got talking to Una Muckian from St. Marys Road and Bernadette McCormack from Ravensdale who said the tour was fantastic and the night was getting better and better with all their old friends.
I headed over for a chat with Barrie Durnin from Blackwater Court who hadn’t stood in the school in 40 years and was hugely impressed with many of the major changes made in the place, but some of it hadn’t changed a bit! She went on to say the committee had done a great job getting everyone together for the night.
Finally, before I departed I met up with Siobhan Hamill from Castle Park and Fiona McKeown from Carrick Road who were delighted to be there and assured me it was going to be a great night with all their old friends there.