Tony Corcoran: I came across the site a while back and have been reading with interest how some of us have followed the path less travelled. Sad to see some have passed away and but it’s good to see so many doing well.

I left in 1975 after passing my Inter-Cert and took up an apprenticeship in Carpentry & Joinery. To this day, I still recall having to know what colour seat I was sitting on when ‘the Doc’ came to start his woodwork class. However upon becoming fully qualified with various additional City & Guilds certificates to back it all up, I decided a few years on the building sites was enough. I wanted out of an industry that was dying on its knees, as there was no Celtic tiger in the early 80s.

I then went into the security industry as a locksmith and duly got bored working for others, so deciding to start my own business was an easy decision.

I went on the usual FAS start your own business course and was all set to go when the course providers took note of my CV and asked me to teach woodwork to ‘some rather wild kids in Longford.’ I laughed, as here I was full circle and the lure of teaching woodwork won through. I spent a few years teaching early school leavers basic woodwork skills before I decided that the idea of six month quick fix was not good enough for the clients or myself.

I then applied for a full time teaching position in a Dun Laoghaire Centre specializing in working with ‘at risk’ youths. I was successful and started work there in 1987. I went on to become Centre Manager in the early 1990s and am still here today. It’s probably the ideal job for me as it constantly challenges me and there’s no fear of getting bored given the issues presented by young people today.

I often think about St Laurences, the fun we had and my classmates of that time … one certain individual had the uncanny knack of impersonating Frank Mc Guinness and putting instant fear into all those wandering in the halls! I won’t name n shame him.

I still see some on rare occasions, however time moves on. I am happily married living in Leopardstown with two kids to keep me busy.

My regards to all those who remember me and to the teachers who gave so much.

Should a past pupils reunion of the class of ’78 gather pace, I would be interested. Kind regards. [Jan ‘08]

Mark Goulding: After St. Laurence College, I went to the College of Marketing and then worked in medical marketing for 13 years – working as marketing manager of a pharmaceutical company. After that, I decided to change careers and retrained as an acupuncturist (3 more years study here, and some time working in a hospital in Nanjing, China ) and since 1999 have had my own practice in Bray. www.markgoulding.com

I have some great memories of my time at Laurence’s and recall with great appreciation the efforts that teachers like Miss O’Shea made to point us in the right direction.

I live in The Glen of the Downs, am married to Mary (O’Herlihy), and have one 13 year old daughter.

Kind regards to all. [Aug 07]

Michael Leahy: Looking back on Laurence's, I have memories of openness, opportunity and obviously camaraderie. As you were probably aware at the time, the National Schools had barely moved out of the forties in terms of mentality and could be very oppressive and conflictual.

Arriving in St Laurence's was a whole new world. I can remember doing honours Irish and English at the same time as woodwork. It must have been a headache to organise, but the principle of giving a guy (or a gal in one case) a shot at trying something new is an important one. The woodwork ended up being a bad idea for me. But I chose it, I tried it and could then move on. I didn't feel hemmed in. On the other hand, I'm not sure what role it played in me becoming a freelance writer in Belgium!

I wish you and the team at St Laurence's all the best for the season. My telephone number is 00/322/644 02 30 if ever you or anyone is passing through town. [Dec. '05]

Dan Rooney: I stumbled across this website when I was Wiki-ing "Sallynoggin" and one thing came to another. I was amazed to see my name listed in this class, as I only attended First and Second year before I moved to America in the summer of 1975.

What I remember most about the school was that it was way different than the national primary I attended in the Noggin, a lot more open and modern and forward-thinking. Then there was the library with the big globe in the middle; my miserable woodworking class performance with Mr. Doherty; a few years before, my brother Peter was lauded as brilliant; getting to skip Irish on a technicality (being American-born); walking to school down Rochestown Avenue and Ballybrack in the dark of winter, or getting the 45A bus to school and walking from the village centre; and, getting a few from Frank McGuinness!

Some of the names I see on the list I still remember: playing schoolboy (U-13 maybe?) football for the school with Aidan McCluskey, who was a very good player. I was the 'keeper on that team and we made it all the way to Tolka Park and a regional schoolboy FAI final of some sort in the spring of 1975, I think. Still have the medal! I also remember my friends Alan Larkin, who I met on a subsequent trip back in 1979, and Ken Scanlon. And, I remember Kelly Hyde being one of three girls in the class at that time, and she being all the rage, being female AND American! (I believe our class was the first to admit girls.)

As for me, I ended up moving to Hartford, Connecticut, going to a Catholic high school over here that had no football team, one of the few in the state at the time that didn't (lots of players I played club football with at the time got free scholarships to university); I then joined the US Navy since I originally was born here. I was stationed in London for two years and made many trips back to nearby Beechwood Lawn, where I grew up. I returned to Hartford in 1983, attended university for a bit and played football while enrolled, but dropped out, and have been here ever since. I have been going back to Dublin every year or so ever since then, as I have a brother living up in the Wicklow mountains. I'm married to a lovely wife, and we have two lovely daughters, and I'm still playing organized football - and watching Man. United every chance I get.

If anyone's interested, my contact info is out there on the web either at glastonburycelticfc.com or ctsoccer.org, and I also gave it to Bro. Jim for the class e-mail directory.

Next time I come over, I'll have to stop in, for sure. [Oct ‘07]

Francis Rubalcava: After leaving school, I did a 4 year bricklaying course. In 1983 I went to Los Angles, Calif. and ended up starting a construction company. In 1996, after a couple earthquakes, I returned to buy a house in Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow. I again started a construction company, which has been good to me. This past summer I built a house for Jo Bowers, who was the college librarian. I am married with 2 children. [Jan. '06]

• Bumped in to Lonan Boylan last week (Nov 2007), told me about the web site the successful reunion last Feb. (any plans for reunion of 1978 class?)
• Looking at the names listed brings back so many memories,
• Allan Larkin, Aidan Mc,  Paul B, Mick K, all the 'Brack' heads !!!, The girls > Lesley/Kelly/Fionnuala great times.
• Mr Moran, looking at me on the ground, as an opponent ran in another try , "did you miss him then,"
• Madeleine O'Shea consoling us after a semi-final loss, (still have nightmares about the penalty miss)
• Spending more time 'outside' Science than inside.
• After Laurence's, I joined the Defence Force, 3 years, studying electronics , then 9 years in the Air Corp, emigrated to Australia, worked for Qantas, came back to live in Ireland in '92, now live in Leopardstown, married to Valerie, with three kids, working in Semi Conductor business with a Japanese Company .  Best Regards [Dec. ‘07]

David Steinegger: I still have great memories from my years at St Laurence. The highlights for me included the canoe trips with Brother Ed - does anyone remember these? We had a great weekend in Clare, surf canoeing and a harrowing trip on the Barrow in full flood, when we almost lost one of the team, caught in a huge "stopper".  

After leaving school and finishing UCD, I trained with Craig Gardner in Dublin before moving to Switzerland and then London , working for various banks and insurance companies. It probably sounds boring, but then again my favourite class at school was Accountancy with Ms. O'Shea!

I have lived in Luxembourg for the last 6 years, happily married with 3 children.  

If anyone has a contact for Mark Murphy, can you let me know as it would be great to get in touch again. [June ‘06]  

Simon Tuite: My memories of St. Laurences remain strong; it was the primary influence on me during formative years.  Having come from Christian Brothers, the atmosphere was quite different and somewhat more enlightened !   My 3 brothers had paved the way; Justin & Mathew (1972) and Michael (1975).  I found it difficult to live up to the academic standard set by them but was allowed establish my own niche in life and was largely spared the obvious academic comparisons with them.

Having gone to work in 78 and subsequently studied in Trinity College at night (not to be recommended as an easy option), I have spent 20+ years in the IT industry in a variety of Irish and international organisations, lastly joining eircom about 5 years ago.  By co-incidence, fellow 78'ers Kieran Ryan, Peter Magee and Geoff Shakespeare all work in eircom too. 

2 of my own 4 kids are doing their leaving certificate as I write.  It's brings back many memories - a strange mix of fear, anticipation and excitement about the future. Cheers .... [June ‘06]