The Kerryman (North Kerry)

Class of ‘68 reunite at their Green alma mater

- By STEPHEN FERNANE

YOU might ask what a priest from Iran, a visitor from Arizona and gathering of men from the four corners of Ireland have in common.

The answer: They all sat their Leaving Cert in the summer of 1968 at CBS The Green.

The Class of ’68 met for a ‘ blast from the past’ on Friday as 30 members from that class got together. The organising committee have been busy over the last few weeks hoping to have as many as possible visit Tralee for what turned out to be one memorable occasion.

Class member Padraig Ó Móráin went on to both teach in The Green for over 30 years and help organise Friday’s reunion.

He said all enjoyed a lovely tour of the school, taking in the changes wrought on it in the years since.

Principal Anne O’Callaghan, Billy Ryle, Brother James Liam Whelan - the last Christian Brothers Principal at the school – and Board of Management Chairman, Sean Spillane, all spoke to mark the event.

Three priests meanwhile came from the class of 1968: Fr Sean Hanafin, Fr Paul Lawlor and Fr Michael Hussey, who concelebra­ted a special mass for deceased class members.

The class then enjoyed a meal and a chat afterwards where there was no shortage of reminiscin­g.

“It was great to meet up with everyone again. Someone said as we arrived at the school that ‘ they’ll think it’s the pupils’ grandfathe­rs who are here’. We all enjoyed it and just to have a chat about life then and now was nice,” Padraig said.

 ??  ?? The Green class of 1968 celebratin­g the 50th anniversar­y of their school leaving on Friday at the old alma mater. Among the group are Fionan O’Connell,Willie O’Connor, Batt O’Connor, Kieran Dowling, Diarmuid Foley, Connell Fanning, Fr Michael Hussey,...
The Green class of 1968 celebratin­g the 50th anniversar­y of their school leaving on Friday at the old alma mater. Among the group are Fionan O’Connell,Willie O’Connor, Batt O’Connor, Kieran Dowling, Diarmuid Foley, Connell Fanning, Fr Michael Hussey,...
 ??  ??
 ?? Conor Fitzgerald, Fr Paul Lawlor and former Irish Independen­t editor Gerard O’Regan. ??
Conor Fitzgerald, Fr Paul Lawlor and former Irish Independen­t editor Gerard O’Regan.
 ??  ?? ABOVE: John Falvey, John Conway and Peter Baily reliving the memories of school at the Green reunion on Friday.
RIGHT: The committee of the CBS the Green Class 1968 reunion at their old school on Friday with current principal Ann O’Callaghan and...
ABOVE: John Falvey, John Conway and Peter Baily reliving the memories of school at the Green reunion on Friday. RIGHT: The committee of the CBS the Green Class 1968 reunion at their old school on Friday with current principal Ann O’Callaghan and...

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland