Loreto College celebrates its 90th anniversary

Little did the people from the Loreto Trust know in May 1930 when they visited Drumkeen House, that 90 years later, members of the school community would assemble during a pandemic year in 2020, to celebrate the anniversary of the school’s foundation.

The ethos of the College and the profound words of Loreto founder, Mary Ward, shaped the learning experience of literally tens of thousands of students in the intervening years.

“Women in time to come, will do much,” were the inspiring words of Mary Ward.

Operating within the constraints of COVID-19, the chairperson of the Loreto Board of Management, Padraig Kellegher, welcomed a number of the other board members to the tree planting ceremony in the grounds of the college recently.

Principal, Angela McGarvey, Eddie Fynes from the Loreto Trust in Dublin and students also participating in the ceremony.

The Loreto Trust took over Drumkeen House from the McCarren family.

Christopher and Sarah McCarren handed over the keys on May 1, 1930, to Sr Antonia Byrne, who was the First Superior.

Fifteen days later, the college opened for a short term from May 15 to June 27

There was an advertising campaign inThe Anglo-Celtfor students and the first full academic year commenced in September, 1930.

Seventy years later the Loreto Sisters handed over the school to the Department of Education.

“It has been a very successful college for all over 90 years and we are here to celebrate those nine decades of Loreto in Cavan,” said Mr Kellegher.

Ms McGarvey, at the outset of her contribution, thanked Fionnuala McEvoy who organised the event and also Gary McGuigan for his preparation and advice in relation to the tree planting aspect of the ceremony.

“Today, we are going to plant three trees – firstly, a Rowan Tree and in Celtic Mythology the Rowan is known as the tree of life and symbolises wisdom and protection,” she revealed.

Mr Fynes planted the Rowan Tree on behalf of the Loreto Trust Board representing the heritage of the college and the Loreto Sisters who founded it.

Two further trees were planted, both silver birches.

“The Silver Birch is sacred and symbolises new beginnings and protection,” explained Ms McGarvey.

On behalf of the staff of Loreto College, past and present, Cliona Hyland and Siobhan Creamer planted the first silver birch.

Three students - Katie Leddy, Ruby Tully and Tamsin O’Reilly – representing the future, planted the second silver birch.

All the students received a book mark and a pen to mark the occasion. The book mark was designed by Molly Galligan and Chloe Candilla.

Aislin Murtagh, teacher, past pupil and poet, read her poem reflecting of the natural beauty and particularly the trees that surrounds the college.

Caoimhe Sexton, representing the Head Girl Team, spoke on behalf of all the students present and past.

“Everyone here has had either a daughter, a sister, a neighbour or a cousin come through this college. It really shows that we are all connected through this school. I feel great a great privilege to be able to say, that I am a Loreto lady because, once a Loreto lady, always a Loreto lady! I feel we will all continue our lives practising the values and the lessons we have learned during our time at Loreto,” she said.

Loreto Trust

Speaking on behalf of the Loreto Trust Board, Mr Fynes said he was delighted to be present to mark the “wonderful milestone”.

“It is really a wonderful school – I travel around the different Loreto schools and Cavan is something special. Down through the years there have been many changes in the curriculum, the facilities and the grounds, but throughout all these changes, there has been one constant and that is the Loreto ethos, which we are all so proud of and lead every day,” he said.