John Clune: I am living and working in construction in Chicago .  I have been here for almost twelve years, although I return to Dublin three times a year to see my children (Melanie 24, Laura 22, David 18).  I had lived and worked in Dublin since school.  I had always wanted to visit and work in America , and in 1993 I followed my older brother, Michael who had emigrated to Chicago in 1978.  I was a Donnelly Visa winner!  At that time my family accompanied me, only to return to Dublin in 1995.

My daughter Laura, who graduated from Maynooth last year, actually repeated her Leaving Cert at St. Laurence College.  I had the pleasure of picking her up one day from the college, and I visited with Ms O'Shea.  That day I could still feel the bond with St.Laurence's.

I closed the door in my office and looked at each name listed on the web site, in both relevant years (‘74 and ’75), and the fond memories flooded back.  I must admit I have not thought about the school for quite some time. I was delighted to be able to mind-picture and remember most of them.  It was a good time.

I am proud to say that some of the major influences, and friends, in my life come from St. Laurence's.  To mention but a few: Ms. O'Shea, Fr. Richard, Bro. Widmer, Mr. McGuinness, Mr. Conroy and Peter Cooke.  Some life long buddies are listed in the classes.  They know who they are.

Fr. Richard is responsible for my faith, which is still as strong today as it was in Glenmalure, that weekend he brought us on the retreat.  I think that was 1975.  He probably would be surprised to know that, as I was not one to openly display such things.

There were very special people in St. Laurence College, both pupils and staff.  I have always cherished my time there with fond memories. [Jan '06]

Thank you for rekindling these memories. [Jan '06]

John Donovan: I happened to call into a doctor friend of mine and the receptionist said she knew me from St Laurence. Her name was Anne-Marie Mahon. She told me about the site and I decided to make contact.

I remember my time at the school with great affection and wished it could be done again. I am in regular contact with Ken McDonald and John Ducie. Just passed the big 50 this year and live in Shankill, married to Rachel and two boys in tow. They are now 19 and 16. One doing Arts and European Studies in Tallaght, and the other guy is in St Andrews in 5th year. I myself am the Sales and Marketing Director of Irish Abrasives, a holding company for many constituent companies in the hardware, engineering and motor factoring trades.

I tried to make contact with Ed Longbottom in New Mexico as I travel a lot to Monterrey , Mexico , but got no reply.

Anyway enough for now. My best to all. [Sept. 07]

Michael Roche: I was delighted to view the updated website for St. Laurence's. The list of class names evoked many fond memories of my brief time at the school. Just seeing my own name on the list as well, made me feel instantly connected to the school's past.

My parents (originally from Ireland ) had settled in Canada . After 13 years in Canada , they decided to relocate our family to Dun Laoghaire . My parents and seven children arrived in Ireland in September 1971. During the first year living in Ireland my brother Patrick and I attended Monkstown College (1971-1972). The next year however, we were enrolled in St. Laurence's and attended from 1972-1973. My family returned to Canada in the fall of 1973.

I have very happy memories of the year I attended St. Laurence's. A number of the teachers (Mr. Murtagh, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Moran, Brother Kelly, just to name a few) inspired my interest in learning. The friendships that my brother and I made that year are still remembered (David and Thomas McAuliffe, Philip O’Halloran as well as fellow members of the basketball team). I was surprised at how many names I recognized though I attended the school for only one year.

I currently reside in Hamilton , Canada . My wife Carmelina and I have two children.

In August 2005 we vacationed in Ireland , and I managed to drive by St. Laurence's. I instantly recognized the building and proudly pointed the school out to my children. I was amazed by the development to the surrounding area!

Great website! Sincerely [April ‘07]

Peter Simons: I did the Leaving in ’74 and  repeated it in 75 – the school had only recently become co-ed with no more than a dozen girls. One of these was the now famous Mariella Froestrup.

I am afraid I was not a very good student. Perhaps all boys go through a rough patch.  Certainly in the mid 70s we were not as material- or career-focused as young people seem to have become.

I wasn’t a good Christian either.  Also a class-mate, Peter Cook, was killed tragically in a freak motorcycle accident.  Fr Bartholomew had been replaced by Fr Richard Loehrlein.   I became a “lapsed Catholic” as a teenager – a Catholic by tradition rather than conviction. 

You might be surprised to learn that my employer after school, Bank of Ireland, gave me a scholarship to go to Trinity from 80 – 84 and later again to take an MBA at City in London 90-91. And I took banking and accountancy qualifications along the way – so I have actually turned out to be an OK student and have built on what I learned at St Laurence’s!

I may still not be a good Christian but I am at least a practising Catholic again and active in my local parish here in Chiswick, London.

In common with many in the mid to late 80’s, I thought my prospects looked grim in Ireland and headed for London. I have been here since ’86. I may have missed out on the Celtic Tiger boom but I am very settled, enjoying relaxed contentment as a husband and father to 3 lively children here in leafy west London.

My only contact with St Laurence since leaving school has been: 

As I was working down the country, I used to attend the midnight mass on Christmas Eve (75-80) as a means of bumping into old friends. 

I answered an ad to buy a 2^nd hand motorcycle once and the ‘one careful owner’ turned out to be Robert Nutty another past-pupil. 

I bought an old mustard coloured MG midget in about ’84 and the log book showed that it had been the very one owned by Michael Heaney our former PE and history teacher (I kept this car for may years until it was stolen in ’92). 

I am still friendly with old class mates such as Henry Mathews and Myles Thorn who have both stayed in Dublin to enjoy the boom. 

Please let me know if I can be any help to you as a London based alumni.  Regards [Dec. 2005],

Michael Tuite: I have been in Galway since 1990 and am well settled into life here. I married Maria Walls (originally from Belfast but whom I met in Dublin ) in 1993. We have two boys: Eoghan, age 9, and Cormac age 1 who are both a delight! Maria works for the national federation of voluntary bodies based here in Galway – they represent the various organisations for people with learning disabilities in Ireland .

Before getting a “real job” I studied Maths Science in UCD, spent a miserable year at CalTech, Pasadena , Cal. and three happy years in Cambridge where I got a PhD in theoretical physics. I then returned to Ireland and held a number of post-doctoral and contract lectureships through the 80s in TCD, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and DCU.

I am still very active in research - my “unreal work”. I have moved interests from theoretical physics to pure maths. My main collaborator is based at Univ Cal Santa Cruz so I travel to the US fairly regularly. I have also had the opportunity through my work to visit many European countries and Japan which I enjoy very much.

We visit Dublin from time to time. It would be great to catch up with you again sometime.

With best wishes. [July 06]