We did not all start together, nor did we all finish together; but for a time we worked together.
What's Happening? |
Paul Gallagher: Just to let you know I'm still around, Now aged 42 (Where did those years go to) and living in Harold Wood in Essex, UK with my wife Fiona and daughter, Brogan (aged 9). I left school just as the Inter exams were commencing and(think I took only the Woodwork exam) have had various jobs. Working initially for Amalgamated Wholesalers in Bray, then 3 Guys/Tesco Ireland Ltd./H Williams for about 7 years (Worked with Susan Mason (Sorry Buckley)for a while at the Ballybrack store. Then after being made redundant by H. Williams' liquidation, went to work running a Bicycle Sales and Repair shop in Bray. Decided to give the UK a try in order to save to get married. My wife Fiona and I did marry (Obviously!!) in 1992 and our daughter Brogan was born in 1996. I worked for over 11 years at the Saudi American Bank in London 's West End before my role was outsourced to Riyadh and so suffered redundancy again.
At present I am the Facilities Operations Manager at the Financial Times at Southwark Bridge on the Thames .
Best regards. [Dec. 2005]
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Paul Kennedy : Greetings all. Wow, some serious time has passed since 1981. It is good to reconnect and hear how some of you are doing. It is most sad to hear about Dara, Derek and TJ Lynch...makes one realize how uncertain life can be. Life has been pretty good to me since I left St. Laurence's. I am married to a lovely Brazilian women, Danielle, and we have the cutest son named Lucas, who is four. We just returned to the US after eight years overseas and live in Ashburn , Virginia , a suburb of Washington , DC .
Going back a few years to just after leaving St. Laurence's, I returned to the United States in 1983 and joined the US Air Force for a four-year stint as a Crew Chief on B-52 bombers. I completed a four-year commitment and went to university, graduating with a masters in international relations in 1992. In 1994 I joined the US Foreign Service as a Diplomatic Security Service special agent. After a tour in Washington , I was posted to the embassy in Brasilia , Brazil as an assistant security attaché from 1997-99. Before leaving Brazil , Dani and I got married and then headed to the US Embassy in Maputo , Mozambique , where I served as the security attaché. We left Maputo in 2002 just after Lucas was born and our next post, as luck would have it, was Dublin . It was wonderful to have the opportunity to be posted "home" and to be able to spend some quality time with my family there. The three years went by in a flash, and before we knew it, we were heading back to the US , where we have been for a year already. This is a life of constant moving around, which has many positives, but gets tiring, especially now that I have a family. But, no complaints!
Our time at St. Laurence was pretty special and the friendships we made carry on for life, one way or another. I look forward to catching up with you all over the years to come. Thanks Brother Jim for pulling this website together and for all the Brothers' care and devotion over the years. All the best, [Sept. ‘06]
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Derek Lewis: (Gävle, Sweden and formerly of Auburn Road, Dun Laoghaire) - November 22, 2005, at the age of 41; to the untold grief of his loving wife Elisabeth, daughter Josephine, son Matthew, parents Maurice and Patricia, sister Valerie, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and his many friends. Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, December 3 at St Paul 's Catholic Church, Gävle. Simultaneously, a Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 3 at 11 o'clock at the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Johnstown, Killiney, Co. Dublin .
'You were my everything.
My everything in eternity. Why?'
[reprinted from the Irish Independent 1 Dec. 2005] |
Susan Buckley (Mason): I Live in Ballybrack with my husband Joe (a Tipperary man) and our son Neil. I worked in the cash office in Tesco for 20 years -- the store was owned by Tesco when I started in 1983 and was again own by Tesco when I went on maternity leave in 2003.
Joe and I bought our house in Ballybrack 10 years ago -- I didn't move too far from my parents or the school. We were married 6 years ago. I am at home full-time since Neil was born in April 2003. At this stage he is 2 years and 7 months old. He is the apple of our eye.
I never ended my connections with the Marianist community and the greater Marianist world. Over the years I have been involved in various lay groups.
[Oct. 2005]
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Alan McGregor: I remember Bro. Jim (and Fred, and Joe) and The Group well, and I have many, many fond memories during my one-and-a-half years at St. Laurence. I remember the trip to Donegal in 1980. Didn’t get much sleep but we sure had a riot!! We were playing Risk or Monopoly (or something) until about 2 in the morning. I also recall an endearing term used to refer to a group of students who had a strong bond of friendship … weren’t they called The Group?
After finishing school & college I figured that there were more engineering jobs in Scotland than in Ireland , so I moved. I loved Ireland and presumably if I had waited a little longer for a job I’d probably still be there and probably would have been at the reunion in May.
I arrived in Boston from Scotland in 2000 and immediately tracked down Alex Nicassio who was in Baton Rouge . I contacted him one week before his home telephone was due to be disconnected following his relocation to Atlanta . When he and his fiancé came to visit me in Boston I barely recognized him … shorts and a tee shirt, and of course a few extra pounds. I was looking for someone in a brown three piece suite with a gold watch and chain.
How’s the weather in Dublin? Here in New England, we have just had the heaviest rain in 70 years. We even got a knock on our front door telling us that we might want to get ready to evacuate if the river bursts its banks. It didn’t.
I have attended schools near Detroit , Edinburgh and St. Laurence, Dublin and never have I felt as welcome as I did at your school. I was a little rough around the edges and I constantly robbed the candy machine and I apologize profusely. But none-the-less people were incredibly tolerant and forgiving. Wonderful friends and wonderful Brothers!! I can honestly say that I am a changed individual and have never robbed any more candies machines since then.
I am sorry to hear about some of our friends who have passed away, especially Dara. She was the first student to welcome me to the school. She was a blessing and I’ll never forget her. [June ‘06] |
Suzanne Moore: Wow, it was so nice reading what others had to say on the web-site. It seems like eons ago, that we were all so young, but some of my memories also feel like they were just yesterday!
Unlike all of you, I am still single with no kids. I have however, informed my niece Kayla (my brother Peters daughter) that she will have to take care of her old spinster aunt when she gets older!! She's only nine now and assures me that she will - wonder how long it will take her to change her mind!!
After leaving St. Laurence I was forced by my loving parents to go to Ballsbridge College of Business Studies, where I graduated with first class honors for the accelerated Secretarial/Accounting Program (aren't y'all impressed!!!) I say I was forced, because I sooooo wanted to become a Ban Garda, but they weren't recruiting that year and my Mom in her wisdom felt that a secretarial course would always be useful for a girl! After that I went to work as an Accounts Assistant for an engineering firm, which bored me to tears. so I decided to take off for Spain where I had (looking back now) a three year vacation. I was working, but living in Marbella was a vacation - Susan (Mason) Buckley came to stay for a couple of weeks too! After three years, I decided to come back to reality and returned to Ireland . I worked for Holfeld Plastics, who tripled in size between the day I started and the day I left. Again, getting bored, I decided to apply for the Morrison Visa - and lo and behold I was lucky enough to get one. Without so much as a second thought I packed my things and flew to New York . It was an easy move as my brothers Arthur & Peter were here already. I took the first job I could get over here and it happened to be in real estate. I have since changed companies and moved from New York to Connecticut , but 12 years later I still work in real estate and now consider myself a bit of an expert in commercial real estate.
Other than vacations (when I always see Susan Buckley - still a great friend), I don't think I'll ever return to Ireland full time, although I am still extremely proud to be Irish. I'm also lucky enough to have my brother Peter (also a St. Laurence PP), his wife Kathy and kids Kayla (9) and Ryan (6), live about an hour away from me. Arthur moved to Naples Florida , which is great too - good for a cheap vacation - Naples is not cheap, but not having to pay for a hotel is. I will actually be in Ireland for two days the last weekend in August 2006 as my youngest brother Chris is getting married in Italy . So if anyone is around - maybe we can meet up for lunch!
Hope I haven't bored you all to tears - I remember you all fondly - we really were blessed to go to such a great school and have such a good time together!
Things I remember about St. Laurence:
*Two of the boys trying to look at my underwear in first year!
*Having to start school half an hour earlier than everyone else for Ms. O'Shea's Accounting class and Bro. Jim's honors math class!
*Being Cecily in Paddy Pender’s production of The Importance of Being Ernest - and having to run my fingers through Alex Nicassio's brylcreamed hair saying "O Ernest - what wonderfully curly hair you have"
*Miss Sexton and the fact that every guy in the school had a crush on her!
*The crazy weekend in Donegal, where we lied to the lady who operated the store and told her that Bro. Jim was single and available!
*Ms. O'Shea taking us all over to sell tickets for the Christmas Raffles - remember the thermometers on the lobby wall!
*Taking the Group Cert with my broken wrist in a cast!
*Ms. Lucey, the music teacher and the hell we put that poor woman through!
*Bro. Fred, who daubed me Suzy Q my first day of school!
I could go on - anyhoo - love to hear from any and all of you. [June ‘06]
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Alan Murphy: I am conducting some research on IT usage at a sector level in Ireland and have just stumbled across your wonderful website. Glad to see you are trying to maintain the links between past pupils and St Laurence's. It is interesting to read the posted messages from students I remember both in my and other years. This is the first time in many a year I have thought about the staff and students in our school, and that time in my life.
Well, here are the highlights of what happened to me after St Laurence's: Colette [Colette Maher: class of '81, too] and I were married in 1984; we have two girls Sarah (21) and Niamh (20). We live in Greystones and have just celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. Colette graduated from TCD in 2001 and works as finance manager. I worked in the film industry and then opened a Newsagent that did not go so well. In 1994 [at the age of 30] I did the repeat Leaving Cert in Dun Laoghaire VEC. The class consisted mostly of 18-year-old students trying to improve their grades and fortunately I got the points to take Economics in TCD. After completing my degree in Trinity in 1999, in 2000 I was awarded Marie Curie scholarship and studied for a Doctum Colloquium in K.U. Leuven in Belgium. In 2001 I returned to Ireland and was awarded a Government of Ireland scholarship to complete my Ph.D. in Economics at TCD. After a lot of hard work and large quantities of coffee, I graduated in 2005 and among other things currently work as an Economist for the Irish Central Bank.
The things I remember most at St Laurence's:
* Ms O'Shea insisting that everyone in class got 100% in the weekly exams!
* Brother Fred the first person to bring those amazing American hot dogs to Ireland!
* The school disco and how cool we all were???
* The 15 guys who turned out in the school rugby team, even though we hardly won a match.
* The 6th year students taking a car inside the school [a little yellow mini].
* That great urban myth about Ms Lucey on the globe in the library singing "I'm on top of the world"
I am sorry to read the sad news about Derek Lewis and Dara Shakespeare. I remember sharing many a good time in art class with Derek and Declan Gaffney. Dara was an amazing young woman, giving 110% commitment to everything she was involved in. Dara was a very warm person and as I well remember always stood by her friends in school.
Hope all is well with you and warmest wishes to all. [Feb 2006]
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Alex Nicassio: I left Dublin and St. Laurence in the spring of 1980, prior to 6th year, and returned to Louisiana ( Southern USA ). I attended High School for 3 months and was advised to go to University, which I did in Spring 1981. I joined the US Air Force, and after 4 years got tired of that and joined the Army. I came back to Ireland and stayed for a year doing retreats with the Mustard Seed retreat team. I returned to the USA , and after moving a couple of times I relocated to Louisiana . I returned to LSU in 1990 for my Masters Degree (MPA) and got that in 1993. Since then I have worked on various projects – mostly IT and IT Management work. I was the lead IT guy at our city hospital – Our Lady of the Lake, and then I went to Atlanta, Georgia to work for Giant Studios where I assisted in several movies including The Lord of the Rings.
In 2001 I got married to Kim Richardson. I brought her to Ireland in 1999 for a visit – she met some of the teachers at the school, and we visited the Brother’s house while there. We are blessed with 2 children – one is 4 years old now (Alexandra Elise) and the other is almost 2 (Colin Joseph). I started working for The Home Depot in 2004, where I still work as Manager of IT operations for their Call Centers and warehouses in 8 states. I just got a promotion, and am being relocated to Atlanta (again).
I have tried to stay in contact with some of my old friends from St. Laurence – I visited Declan Gaffney and I stay in close contact with Alan McGregor, who lives close to Boston . I plan to bring the wife and kids back to Ireland for another grand tour as soon as they can travel.
I remember so much from my St. Laurence days that I would not know where to start!
* I remember the day Suzanne Moore broker her wrist
* I remember the Stratford on Avon trip where we had a lot of fun – I have pictures still!
* I clearly remember annoying Bro. Jim by pretending to be a teacher (Math) and greeting parents when they came to the school
* I remember dressing up every day in 3 piece suits – I almost never get dressed up now – Ha!
* The thing I remember most was the great friends I made those days – although they are long gone and probably do not remember me, I will never forget everyone I met there.
I will send some pictures soon [June '06] |
| Stephen Poulton: Hi there. Just found the web site and decided to say hello. Since leaving school I have had a varied career: from truck driving, electrician, and for the past 18 years various positions in Pfizer Ireland , Pharmaceuticals on Pottery Road . I have 4 children: Amy, Rachel, Shane and Stephen, I also have grandson, Caylem. I was divorced 4 years ago and am engaged to be married again Regards. [June '06] |
Dara Shakespeare: Copied from the Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club Website: Regretfully we heard about Dara Shakespeare's untimely death at the age of 42 years, last week. Dara was a long time member of both South Dublin and then D.S.D. athletics clubs. She was a member of the DSD womens team that won the National League three times and competed in the European Clubs C'ships in Lisbon, Como and Switzerland in the mid '80's. She was the first woman to throw the javelin over 50m and was Irish record holder. She won numerous National Titles and was a valuable club member. She was in latter years involved in coaching and helped Anne Marie Whelan and Grace McDonagh with the javelin. She was one of the club coaches on our inaugural warm weather training trip to Lanzarote. She will be greatly missed. Our sympathy goes to her brothers Geoff (a former triple jumper with the club) and Richard.
Bro. Jim adds, "Dara's determination and spirit of helpfulness as a student, past-pupil and support to the college mark her as one beautiful person. Please say a prayer for her." [July 2005]
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Laurence Wolahan: The website is a great idea. Looking back over, in my case, two class lists (1980 and 1981) and reading other site entries was both very thought and image provoking. A flood of happy, amusing, some downright hilarious (and the occasional forgettable) memories came back to me.
Some biographical information: After leaving Laurence's in 1981 I did an Accounting and Finance degree at DCU and worked in tax in Dublin before moving to London in 1988. I am now working in recruitment and enjoying life living in Essex, England, married to Andrea. We have been blessed with two children Erin (3) and Jasper (1).
Some old memories include:
- Great times playing and usually losing at rugby with some great lads.
- Peter Simons in another note on the website mentioned that he bought Mr Heaney's old midget. Well I can still see a group of six years lifting up and carrying that same midget from the car park and depositing it in the middle of the playing pitch on their last day.
- Working cleaning the school after school finished and during the summer English school for Spanish students. We had some real hoots working there. Bro. Fred took Michael O'Neil (student), Paul Kennedy, Declan Swanton (I think) and myself camping to Slea Head in Kerry when one summer school was finished. (Fred, I'm still cooking burgers to the recipe you thought me all those years ago.)
- We had a great time in Mr O'Broin's woodwork class and were given the opportunity to make an item of furniture to keep. My little wine table is with me in Essex. I wonder does John Dolan still have the double bed he made?
- 'Hands on head' in Madeleine O'Shea's accounting class.
I will keep an eye on the site for further updates. [Feb. '06]
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