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Lonan Boylan: It is hard to believe that it is 29 years this year since I left what I can only describe was a great college and I am sure still is. When I looked up the web site and and viewed my year ' 72 to ' 77, memories came flooding back of walking to school through the elements, some great teachers especially Madeleine O'Shea, the soccer blitz tournaments to which I participated in and my old friends, Derek Donnelly, Dave Mackey, Paul Moore and many many more.
I can remember vividly the joy and despair of viewing the honours board in the lobby.. I also remember chasing after Frank McGuinness's golf balls after school. I am now working with my brother Darach, a former pupil, who has his own business in the Airline Industry. I'm married to Geraldine 19 years, and living in Ballinteer. What a night it would be if we could have a reunion for our 30th year next year. [Feb. '06]
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Garvan Browne: It was a blast from the past hearing from Lonan after all this time. Like the rest of you it has been an interesting road. Every so often I pass Laurence’s on the road to Bray, and each time I wonder how it has all changed.
I went to the College of Surgeons after leaving Laurences (after a brief year at the Rathmines COC repeating the Leaving Cert.). I wish I was as proud of the RCSI as I am of Laurences. Unfortunately what was a great Medical School has become one of the worst developers raping our City (with "Charitable" status). I qualified in 1984 without a clue what I would be "When I grew up". Still don’t really have a clue.
I did a Masters in UCD in Pathology, followed by a post as lecturer in Dental Pathology in TCD/St. James' Hospital. In 1990 I went to Yorkshire for 3 miserable years. I then moved to Iowa City on a NIH fellowship in immunopathology. I was less than a 100 miles from where John Young lived ( Des Moines ) but had no idea and never caught up with him until a few weeks ago.
I finally decided that I wanted to come home, but did not want to work in a Dublin Hospital , so I retrained in general practice in Chepstow in 1997. I am now in full time family practice in Naas, Kildare. I live in the Strawberry Beds and I am active in a group seeking a national park along the Liffey Valley from Island Bridge to Straffan.
I play Jazz guitar mainly (but I am equally bad at most types of music).
Looking forward to seeing everybody next year. [May ‘06] |
Paul Byrne: The class reunion has finally galvanised me into sending in an update from the days of clogs and flares back in 1977. After the Leaving Cert I realised that the world was a big bad place and somehow got back into Laurence’s to repeat the Leaving Cert. After another year, I was unleashed on the world and through the good offices of Madeline O’Shea got an interview with Esso Ireland in Stillorgan. That was back in Sept 1978 and I am still with Esso today in 2007. It’s a long time with one company, 29 years this year, but there have been lots of different jobs over the years, some of which were computer programming, purchasing and territory manager leading to my current role as a Buyer for the On the Run chain of stores. In my defence, there are two past pupils from Laurence’s, Seán Coghlan ’72 and Richard Rafferty ’73 who also went straight from the College to Esso and are still gainfully employed.
I was married to Monica in 1988 and we have two children: Orla and Eoghan.
Some of my memories from Laurence’s are….
- Bro Widmer’s music classes;
- Frank McGuinness, who was capable of putting the fear of God into you;
- Heading down to the Rory Gallagher concert in Macroom with Kieron Meagher and Michael Halpin, sleeping in a Mini and meeting up with Louis Peppard, Francis Rubalcava and Danny DeChenu. Michael and Danny had spent a few bob and hours getting dreadlocks for the big event. Kieron and myself hitched all the way home and spent one night in a ditch just outside Watergrasshill before finally making it home.
- Being on the losing sides in rugby (one match report I still have lists a 57-something drubbing) and in soccer.
- Girls coming into Laurence’s when we were in 2nd year. In one class I was seated between Claire Borinski and Fabienne Buckle and was unable to speak to either due to being totally tongue-tied.
- Charity Walks up the hills by the lead mines and on to Kilternan
- Attending my first gig in the gym headlined by Supply, Demand and Curve (who I never heard of again)
- Sports days and Declan Whelan making up a lap and a half deficit to win a race
- Our Debs in the Gym and all the preparation that went into it
- School trips and one particular trip to Kilkenny when we visited a few pubs in the town
- Playing table tennis and fussball after school. (Dave Nicholson and Noel Murray were so good at that table tennis.)
- Listening to Ian Drurys New Boots and Panties album on the last day of school
- Skipping off to Whiterock beach near the end of term for a day’s swimming (with some consequences) .
The reunion was a great night and I’m already looking forward to the 50th. [March ‘07] |
Brendan Costello: just a note to say that I am living on my own in rented accommodation in Islington, north London .
After leaving St Laurence (where my best friends included James Dormer, David Delahunt and Mark Duberry) I was offered a job with the bank of Ireland . I opted instead to go to university and do an arts degree.
While at UCD I dabbled in the martial arts, especially karate (should we ban it?); I graduated with a BA (2:2) in 1980.
Following my degree I worked in a grocery store in Dublin and then in 1989 I moved to London where I lived in a hostel for a year.
In June 1992 I attended a Business Administration course; I then completed a computer course (City and Guilds) and in April 1997 I did voluntary work with an IT firm called COMMUNITY SYSTEMS in north London as part of 'training for work'. I have enrolled on and completed an electronics and computer course in south London and a short paralegal course as well. Nat West bank called me for an interview but unfortunately I was not successful.
In August 1999 I found work as a controller in a mini-cab office. My next paid job was as a motorcycle courier for a courier company in east London , delivering letters and parcels to clients as directed. This job finished in March 2005 and in April 2005 a company called SECURE MAIL SERVICES took me on as a self-employed courier, where I have been since.
I don’t have a family so it does get a bit lonely at times.
Anyway, best wishes and God bless to you all!! [Jan '06]
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Mary Domoney: How time has flown….. it only seems like yesterday in some ways, until I looked at the photos on the school website, and realised how young we all were back then.
When I left school (March 1977) I worked in the Tax Office in Dublin for 8 years. I then went travelling around Europe for a time, and went to London in 1986 intending to stay for 6 months. I stayed for 20 years, and worked as a Tax Consultant in the City for most of that time. I married and had one daughter (who is 12), but am now divorced. I moved back to live in Dublin at the end of last year and it’s going to take a while to adjust to the different lifestyle and change of pace from London .
I am now working in Ballsbridge as a Tax Consultant for a firm of Accountants and live in Leopardstown. I would like to set up my own small accountancy and tax practice working from home some time in the future.
I am really looking forward to the reunion next year, and catching up with everybody. I have great memories of my time at the school, and I’m sure that when we all get together the memories will be jogged, and stories will be told!
Best Wishes to everyone, and see you all next year, if I don't bump into you before then. [May '06]
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Derek Donnelly: Thanks Lonan for setting up what looks to be a great night!!! (I ran into Lonan about 10 years ago and we had a great time and a good few jars talking about the old days and old friends!!)
I have been in New York since 1985 and come home fairly regularly, but usually for short trips. Always wanted to get together with my old friends Paul "Butch" Moore, David Mackey, Kieron Meagher, the mountainy men: Declan "Winner" Winstanley, Noel Murray and David Nicholson and also Declan Whelan, Colm Dooley and Jimmy Mitchell -- and now its all set up!!!.
Looking at the names on the list, the memories come flooding back. Ross Chadwick -- the biggest guy ever to play rugby for St. Laurence’s, always in good humour -- a true gentle giant! Brendan "Macker" McDonald, the friendliest "shaper' you'll ever meet-- you should wear your Doc Martins !!
Trying to stay out of Frank McGuinness' way at all costs! Singing in the back of Mr. Carty's History class before an international football match. The fun we had in Irish class with Mr. Desmond. Soccer blitzes in Newbridge before Ted "Doc" Doherty knew anything about the game (only saying that because he never played me!!!) The fear of going into Madeleine "Tessie" O' Shea's class every day -- without a doubt the best teacher any of us ever had!!! Table tennis after school -- Dave Mackey you never beat me! Lonan combing his hair 15 times a day!.Paul Moore trying to cross a ball!! Kelly Hyde!!! Better stop now before I get into trouble.
Great times and lots of fun and looking forward to more of the same on Feb 24th 2007!.[Oct. ‘06] |
Michael Keating: I’ve been watching the website for some time now and in particular the 72 – 77 past pupils section and I’m glad to see the re-union gathering momentum, thanks to Lonan Boylan and the rest of the gang. Thirty years is a long time. Most of us probably wouldn’t recognize one another if we passed in the street. Yet we all have memories and stories that we can remember. I look forward to some of those stories being re-told next year at the reunion. After 30 years we will all have a few more stories to tell.
After leaving St.Laurences in 1977 I spent a year at PUC on Merrion Square , having a second stab at getting my Leaving Cert right. I must have been paying attention the second time round as I got enough points to get into Engineering at Trinity in 78. Got through that OK over the next four years, though I don’t think I had as much fun as Bob Sugrue and Columba Kelly! Their parties in Ailesbury Road were legendary.
The university life came to an end in ’82 and my adventures in Africa started. De Beers, the South African diamond mining company, came to Dublin to recruit engineers and geologists. I liked the idea of working outside of Ireland for a few years and so off I went. What I didn’t expect was to end up in an isolated small mining town on the coast of Namibia, where I spent six good years. Despite the isolation, the work experience and friendships gained were invaluable. Cape Town was a 1000 mile round trip but the trip was made regularly between finishing work on Friday afternoon and starting again on Monday morning! We needed the R&R to stop us from going ‘sand-happy’ in the desert.
In 1988 I moved to Johannesburg . I got more involved in project engineering and management, while still in the mining industry. That work took me all over Africa . At the last count, I had visited 16 African countries, from Senegal to Tanzania and Lesotho to Niger . At present I am working for a Canadian junior mining company starting up a new Copper Cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It is not the easiest place to do business. There are no ATMs, you cannot use a credit card, and nobody wants to take a cheque. I’ve had to resurrect my pidgin French from all those years ago. Some French did actually manage to stick inside my head from Brother Ed’s classes.
Married life has been a bit like my school life. I’m having a second go at it. I married Camilla, a Cape Town lass, in May of this year. I have no intention of repeating again! [June ‘06] |
Dermot Lacey: I have had an eventful time since leaving Laurences all those years ago. I am always proud to say that I attended, what was undoubtedly, one of the best schools of its time.
Since my Leaving Certificate in 1977 I have worked in the Hotel Sector, also, as a stock controller, a Youth Worker, and a Community Worker. For most of my life since, I have worked in and around politcs. I was fortunate to be co-opted to Dublin City Council in 1993 and then re-elected in 1999 and again in 2004. I was hugely honoured to be elected Lord Mayor of Dublin for 2002-2003 and in that capacity visited Laurences in what was a really special time for me.
I am married to Jill, since 1992 and we have two great children, aged 5 and 7. As I was when in the college, I am still involved in the Scouts and still awful at sport - though unusually, much more fond of it than I was.
I would love to hear more about the 1972-77 class and hope that more people will find the site and come on board. Best wishes to all in the school. [Jan '06]
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Eoin Mac Mahon : Greetings to all from the Canaries.
Out of the blue I received a message from Mary Domoney, who through a bit of detective work had managed to contact my mother. Shortly afterwards Lonan was in contact and through him I found out about the reunion and the website. Good on ya Lonan!!
I have just been looking at some of the photos on the website. I am the one with the unruly hair on the far left. The hair is going rapidly and if you add in a beard, that’s me!!
Fuerteventura has been my home now for the last 22 years. After leaving school I headed off to the "continent" and spent a very enjoyable couple of years travelling and working in different countries. At some stage I decided I should grow up and get a proper job and so returned to Dublin . I was working for a time with Eamonn Redmond in a Bio-Tech Company in Sandyford and I managed to crash a bike with John Brennan (sorry Johnny) but other than that lost contact with all my other classmates. Just reading the names brings back the memories
I arrived here on the Canaries in 1984 with a rucksack on my back and a set of custom-made sails for windsurfing and never left. Windsurfing was my reason for being here and within a short time I was over on Fuerteventura which was and is one of the best places in the world for Windsurfing. In 1984 I started as manager of a small school here and over the next 8 years we built it into THE top school in the world.
In 1992 I left to go sailing and spent 6 months sailing around the Canaries and doing S.F.A. Working again became an issue and on returning to Fuerteventura I started work with a day charter boat (28M Gaff rigged Schooner) as a way to earn a crust. During this time I took my Engineers exams for the Spanish merchant navy and became a card carrying seaman. In 1997 I decided that a change would be as good as a rest and bought a pub.
I am now 10 years a publican and using the vast amount of knowledge one gets sitting at the bar for years. I am now on the other side and doing the pouring. I have put together a website www.barsafari.com which also has a photo of me. I certainly hope that after the reunion I will be able to welcome one or the other old school friend to a beer. The Irish are not that well represented down here in the south of Fuerteventura and I would love to change that if possible.
I am really looking forward to the reunion and will be travelling up to Dublin on the previous Thursday with good old Ryanair from Fuerteventura .
Ok, that’s it for the moment. Closed up tonite at two and its now 4am . Best regards to everybody. [Feb. ‘07] |
Brendan (Macker) Mc Donald: It was a great surprise that i got a call from Lonan Boylan about the planned reunion of the class 1972-1977. I always said it was a small world we live in today and i was only thinking the other day, will the college ever get everyone together to bring the old and fond memories back of our days in SCHOOL.
No doubt after 30 yrs. all the faces will have slightly changed with age and there will be a lot of stories to be told.
I do remember some of the guys and i will never forget my old teacher Madeleine O Shea who i believe was one of the best ever and who had passion for teaching. She never had much faith in me but what a teacher (Madeleine, if you are still around i didn't become an accountant but i do have to work closely with them now, so it does help being taught by you.)
Well guys thanks for making contact and i will be there on the night and no doubt it will be a BOM.
By the way, hello to my old mates George O Brien, Lonan Boylan, Colm Dooley, Paul (George) Reynolds and to Paul Byrne who I bump into now again at Dublin Airport.
Regards and the best of health to everyone. [April '06] |
Senan Murphy: Lonan Boylan has been in touch with me about a past pupils’ reunion planned for next year. I’ve read some of the other mini-biographies with interest so I thought that I would add my own, in the spirit of glasnost, so to speak.
I’m still a keen amateur guitarist. I delivered several courses on guitar and computer programming to adult evening classes over a period of four years since I moved to England . Your exhortations to us to work with maths and computers were heeded by some of us, even though we did a good job of pretending not to care a jot for your opinions at the time. I must admit that the pupils who I really dreaded teaching in the evening were teenagers. I realise now what a good job you guys did to control your tempers with us at the time. You all made a difference with your enthusiasm. We were all lucky to be in the right place at the right time with the right people. I’ve fond memories of everybody who shared their time with me in that year. (I won’t name individuals as I would run the risk of offending somebody by omission.)
I moved to London in 1985, after spending several years with an audio electronics manufacturer and then spending a year back at college to learn computer programming. In 1988 I moved to Portsmouth , England and got married and had two children in the years that followed. I worked for General Motors for ten years in Finance, Production Control and Stores Management. I’ve spent the last four years working in the Telecoms industry working in IT. I do miss being able to keep in touch with my old friends as I now live abroad, so, a past pupils re-union will be a great opportunity for me to meet some old friends again.
What a teacher Gerry Murtagh was. He really encouraged us all to start thinking for ourselves. I still remember those charity walks which he led us on. His humour pervaded every moment and made us all realise that learning was fun.
Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings. [April ‘06]
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Noel Murray: I have very happy memories of my years in Laurences - I was one of a small group of boys from around Kilternan who attended the school in the seventies - generally known as the mountainy men (or words to that effect). The group included my brother Brian, Ronald and David Nicholson, Gerard and Declan Winstanley, Eugene Hilliard, Paul Kent and Ken Roe. We frequently thumbed lifts to and from school on the Ballycorus Road, if we missed our bus, or had sport after school - imagine our children suggesting it today!
On the sporting front, I recall playing Rugby, Soccer and, if memory serves me right, even Gaelic for the school - none particularly well, but the crack was good. We had a decent Soccer team, but the Rugby wasn't up to much - one especially bad drubbing in the Junior Cup (section A, round one) stands out - against Marion, I think.
Like hundreds of others before and after me, Madeline O' Shea particularly stands out in my memory. She had extraordinary commitment to the school and its community, and had a very strong influence on me. Whether a result of that influence or not, I became an accountant. I spent a couple of years in Cincinnati in the eighties, and returned home to get married in 1987 - to Mary, a Kerrywoman.
I am currently working with SR Technics, an aircraft maintenance company based at Dublin Airport. We live in Clonskeagh and have three children, Richie (16), Ciara (14) and Aoife (12). [Jan '06] |
Celine Naughton: I have mixed memories of my two years as an interloper in St Laurence’s. So many boys, so little time… I was in awe of all the girls (well, all nine in our year) and a little bit in love with all the lads, including half the brothers.
Anyway, I came away with my own Laurence’s boy in Jan van Embden. We’re married forever and have two daughters – Mieke who is now also a past pupil and Corinne who at an early age decided on an all-girls’ convent because “boys are so disruptive.” Atta girl!
So back to those mixed memories… Well, mostly they’re incredibly fond, but I did go through a spate of late slips which resulted in picking up lots of litter. And then there was the jeans incident. I thought they were the business, but Bro. Jim wasn’t into frayed hems at the time and stapled them somewhere around my calves from where they fluttered hideously for the rest of the day.
As one of a few girls in a sea of boys there were far more embarrassing moments, but let’s move on to the good stuff. Does anyone remember a flag collection day when Bobby Sugrue, in a bid to outdo everybody in the competition, told the public that we were raising funds for homeless and orphaned children in a charitable institution in Loughlinstown? In fairness to him, he did marvellously well. There were rumours that other people used some of the proceeds to pay for a game of snooker somewhere off Grafton Street to relieve the boredom, but it’s not true. We didn’t do it.
Declan Winstanley made me laugh so much in Business Studies I often had to go to the library, and it was nothing to do with his Bay City Rollers inspired tartan phase. Arthur Hallinan was a Rolling Stones fan who sewed their famous tongue logo on to his schoolbag, Dermot Lacey looked like the singer Don McLean (little did we know then you'd one day look out of the Mansion House into that Starry Starry Night as Lord Mayor) and George O’Brien had beautiful dark brown ringlets. Speaking of hair, the L’Oreal trophy had to go to Lonan Boylan who, as we all know, is the driving force behind next year’s reunion. Thank you Lonan. Great idea and we all look forward to it. Jan’s driving.
No, he isn’t, he tells me. We’re going to get one of those taxi cabs. Probably share it with John Young and his gorgeous, lovely wife Lisa whom we’re delighted to call friends to this day and who are planning to come all the way from Iowa for the occasion. As Garvan Browne says on this site, he spent some time there a few years ago without realising John was living down the road. Hate tha’! We’re also pleased to have had the pleasure of Garvan’s company now and again over the years. We were at a party in his house just over a year ago when we bumped into Paul Nash who was such fun I didn’t want to leave. How sad then to learn of Paul’s death this year from cancer. May he rest in peace along with other classmates who have left this world ahead of us. I hope they join us in spirit for what promises to be a memorable reunion. [Sept. '06] |
John O’Brien: Hello to all at Saint Laurence. I have just discovered that there is to be a class re-union next year.
I have been married twice (my first wife Caroline died from cancer 11 years ago) and I have five lovely kids, one a Religion and History teacher in Balbriggan; another works back in Ireland in a local supermarket; another son lives here with me here in Spain. My two little girls live with their mother in Wexford, unfortunately!!!!
When I left Laurences I went on to work as an electrician and eventually ended up working in the TV and film business. Then tragedy struck, the sad loss of Caroline encouraged me to make the decision to go back to college.
I earned a joint honours degree (Geography and Sociology) from Trinity in 2000 and began a new career path.
I now live here in Torreveija, close to Alicante with my wonderful partner, Susi who is a Spanish national and works as primary teacher. I am also a teacher.
We would love to go back for a re-union in the near future and to meet my fellow classmates and the staff . Kindest regards. [Oct. '06] |
John Scott ’77: I received your information about the reunion in February. -- unfortunately, I was away that weekend and couldn't attend.
I lead quite an interesting life - I went to UCD and graduated in 1980 with a degree in English and Greek and Roman Civilisation. I then started to perform and study dance and was apprenticed to Dublin City Ballet. I founded my own company: Irish Modern Dance Theatre in 1991. We have toured in France , USA , Sweden, Bulgaria, Brazil, Estonia and Turkey. You can see some of my work on You Tube if you search for Irish Modern Dance Theatre, or on our web page www.irishmoderndancetheatre.com.
I also train and work as an opera singer, a tenor and have worked with Opera Ireland and various other groups. I also work with refugees and torture survivors.
It’s great to read the various entries by people on the past pupils web page. I have great memories of St Laurences and the great teachers and their positive attitude.
I'm making a living and I travel a lot but am not getting rich, yet. Hopefully someday.
Many good wishes. [Dec. ‘07] |
Bob (Bobby) Sugrue: I have the fondest memories of my time in Laurences, even though I always seemed to have been in some sort of trouble. It was never too serious but sufficient to have “Robert Sugrue, please report to the office” paged far too often for my liking. To this day I cringe when someone calls me Robert.
After Laurences I repeated to get into Trinity -- a somewhat fun-filled & eventful 4 years, saw me barely escaping with a degree in Systems Sciences to then pursue an H.Dip. at Maynooth. I had the great pleasure of doing my practical teaching in Laurences under Frank McGuiness, an inspirational teacher who gave freely of his time.
I went to South Africa in 1984 where I had a most fulfilling 6 months teaching in a township outside Soweto . For my sins, I ended up in the IT industry & eventually had my own company. In 1991 I met & married my wife Marinda & over the next 4 years had 3 children; Elaine, Cormac & Danka. Following a family holiday to Ireland , Marinda convinced me that Ireland would be a better place to raise children and so in late 1999 we settled in Malahide. We visit SA every two years & miss it a lot.
I work for a small IT company in Dun Laoghaire , but enough of that. Our lives seem to revolve around the kids and their many activities, including sailing & competitive swimming. I am active in the sailing club and am a keen, though less than brilliant sailor.
With Elaine in secondary school & Cormac about to start, I often reflect on the positive influence the Brothers & teachers had on our lives & I fervently hope that my children enjoy a similar experience in their chosen schools.
I look forward to meeting everybody at the reunion. [June ‘06]
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