St Mogue’s to celebrate 50 years

A 50-year reunion, celebrating the classes of 1974 - 1979 at St Mogue’s College, formally Bawnboy Vocational or the Tech as it was known locally, will take place Saturday, October 26, in the present day school.

Pupils who attended during those years, or who were in the school during this period, along with former staff, are invited to join the celebrations.

The reunion marks a wonderful occasion in education as it celebrates the first class to sit their Leaving Certificate in Bawnboy.

Martha Brady, deputy principal, explains how she was approached by Thomas Doonan during the summer to help organise the milestone event.

Mr Doonan started as a first year in 1974 and was one of the first group of students to sit his Leaving Certificate in the school.

“Anyone who knows Thomas knows his great enthusiasm and energy. I am delighted to help in any way I can. Thomas has a great memory of his time in school, and he could list the class groups that started and those that completed the Leaving Cert.”

The organisers reached out and found former principal Jim McGuinn’s book “very helpful” as it listed all the classes, names, and addresses of past pupils.

“Thomas enjoyed looking back through these lists and photos and telling me who everyone was, where they are now, who they married, and who their children are.

“He even advised me who to contact to help co-ordinate each year group. Work is underway to contact former classmates and unite them again,” explained Ms Brady of the preparations underway.

Music pupils and the school Comhaltas group will entertain guests on the night, with the celebration taking place from 8-10pm.

Transition Year students will meanwhile act as guides to those returning to the school's hallowed hallways, where past pupils will have plenty of opportunity to explore the new facilities including the newly finished €5 Million modular investment. Opened in time for this school year, the additional accommodation boasts nine new classrooms, including state-of-the-art Music, Wood Technology, Laboratory, Art and SEN facilities.

An outdoor basketball soccer courts and car parking facilities were also added.

“This is the first reunion we have hosted, and it is a very exciting occasion,” said Ms Brady. “We wish to make it special and hopefully, it will inspire past pupils to come back to their alma mater. We encourage any relative, sibling, or cousin to contact those who are away and let them know this is taking place.”

Contact details for the coordinators of each of the individual year groups are: 1974-1975, Thomas Doonan 087-2247915 and Colette Flemming-Flanagan 0872730143; 1975-1976 Teresa O’Reilly toreilly136@gmail.com; 1976-1977 Julie Edwards contact info@stmoguescollege.ie; 1977-1978 Imelda Dolan-Bannon imeldabannon@gmail.com; 1978-1979 Breda Edwards-Donohoe donohoebre@gmail.com