Historic day for the lads at St Joseph’s
JOSEPH HEALY AND LOUIS TURLEY PRAISED FOR THE BUILDING OF SUNDAY’S GATE SCHOOL
October 1936
THERE was a cheering Guard of Honour for His Eminence, Cardinal MacRory, when he attended at St. Joseph’s, Drogheda, to bless and open the splendid new school which the Christian Brothers have built adjoining their older establishment at Sunday Gate.
A large number of priests from Drogheda and the neighbouring parishes, Christian Brothers from every House in the Province, as well as the local Superior and Brothers, and the Mayor of Drogheda wearing his chain of office also assisted in the ceremonies, which were carried out wtih great order and dignity.
The Cardinal arrived at 1.15 p.m., accompanied by Right Rev. Monsignor Lyons P.P., V.G., and others of the clergy. His Eminence was received at the King Street gateway by the Drogheda Superior, Rev. Brother Donnelly, and the Mayor of Drogheda,. Alderman L. J. Walsh, and conducted through a line of the schoolboys and Catholic Boy Scouts to the balcony in front of the Brothers’ House, where he was presented with a golden key by Brother Donnelly, amidst the applause of the assembled throng.
The Oliver Plunket Troop of Catholic Boy Scouts, in charge of Scoutmaster W. Martin, and the Artane Band formed part of the procession through the well laid out grounds to the new school.
Mr. Joseph Healy, the builder of the new schools, and Mr. Louis Turley, the architect, were amongst those who welcomed his Eminence.
The King Street entrance was decorated with flags and bunting, and bore a scroll with the inscription : “Welcome to Our Cardinal.” Papal and National flags were also flown from the Brothers’ House, the old school and the new school, and from the top of the fine new Technical School adjoining, the National and Drogheda colours were flown.
A special Address was given, signed by Bro Superior W F Donnelly, Peadar McCann and student, Donal Crowley.
Monsignor Lyons said he appreciated what Brother Donnelly and Brother Kelleher said about him in his role in the school building.
He could not help thinking of Brother Hayes, the past Superior, who, with the architect and builder had begun the work of building the fine school which his Eminence had blessed that day. ‘ The Christian Brothers were everywhere. Go down to Gibraltar and you would meet Brother Murphy, a. Spaniard, of course; Gibraltar would not be the same without him. And if you were in Rome and could not get a favour from a Cardinal you should try Brother Clarke, who comes, he believed, from a very important place near Drogheda called Duleek. a place from which a very important part of Drogheda got its name,’ he said.
The Mayor said the Irish Christian Bros., were a community whom the people of Ireland would never forget for the great work they had done for them, not only in the cause of Ireland but in the cause of the Church itself.
As a Drogheda man he felt that the town was honoured in having in its midst such an admirable teaching order. He hoped the local community would continue to expand and to turn out boys who would keep the name of Drogheda to the forefront in commerce and the professions, not oniy in Ieland but in the greater Ireland beyond the seas.