Graham Bell: living in Shankill with my wife, Linda, who is also a past pupil (Linda Kelly). I wasn't at the college for that long. Great to see the website. Best wishes to all. [March '07]

Michael Carroll: I don't expect you to remember me from my days in St. Laurence's - I barely remember myself from those days - so I shall perform a reintroduction...

I was in the class of 78-83 (except that I left in 1982, during fifth year), the brother of Martina (one year older), Sheelagh (two years younger) and Janet (five years younger). I don't think that I did or accomplished anything that might make me stand out from the crowd... I was particularly adept at not being much good at things but believing that I was, a skill I retain to this very day! I do remember being pretty good at Mechanical Drawing and rubbish at Irish, which made things interesting in (I think) fifth year when Mr O Brioin taught me in both classes back-to-back.

I think that I got on fairly well with most of my fellow students, though I remember that much of my time was spent being too shy to get involved and generally feeling awkward and embarrassed about a wide variety of mostly imaginary imperfections.

By a staggering coincidence, today - April 2nd - marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of my last day in St. Laurence College. I left to pursue a "career" in the post office. Not necessarily the wisest move I could have made, but I'm still not dead or imprisoned so I guess things have worked out pretty well...

I find it hard to believe now, but I was only sixteen when I started working full-time! I was employed as a "junior postman" (that is, a "telegram boy") until I was eighteen, whereupon I was inducted into the rank Postman, a job I thoroughly despised (and about which I still have nightmares).

The only advantage of the job was money (which was, of course, the reason I needed to take the job in the first place). The ready cash enabled me to buy a small home computer, and the unsocial hours gave me plenty of time to learn how to program it.

In October 1985 I took a one-year career break from the An Post, and never went back. There's probably a delivery or two still waiting for me in the sorting office in Glenageary. I joined a small software company which became very successful, and I gradually worked my way up the ranks, until I encountered the glass ceiling installed by the Upper Management ("Yes, you're the best programmer and analyst we have, but you don't have a degree, do you?").

I eventually made good on all my threats and left the company to join another, which folded rather promptly. That was in July 1999... I haven't had a real job since!

These days I earn a living by writing. I don't recall being particularly interested in writing when I was in school, but I was a voracious reader, and somewhere along the way I must have developed the idea that perhaps I should be creating my own stories rather than simply reading other people's. I mostly write novels - I've had fourteen published to date - the majority of which are for the "young adult" market.

In 1990 I met Leonia, the love of my life. We married three years later and every day since has been better than the day before! We live in Clondalkin with no children, one cat, and about five thousand books.

I have a couple of websites that might be of interest: http://www.iol.ie/~carrollm (a general, catch-all, family-sized bucket of ramblings, rarely updated these days) and http://www.quantumprophecy.com (the official website for my latest YA series).

Looking forward to hearing from you!

With all best wishes, and fond memories. [Apr. ‘07]

Eugene Ivory: The website is a great idea to get back in touch. I can’t tell you how many memories came flooding back when I had a look around and started to read some of the stuff others had written. It’s wonderful to be able to look back with such a great sense of fun and gratefulness to the Brothers and all the staff at St Laurence.

Well what’s been happening with me since then… I repeated my Leaving Cert in 83/84 in St. Laurence, so technically I didn’t leave until 1984. (It took me two runs at the high-jump to get over it.) Since then I have been very blessed in my life. I did a BA at TCD. Have moved around a bit in the career going initially into insurance, then moving to the food industry and then into IT. I now have a management consulting company with a couple of colleagues. I married Kay in 1992 and have two children Della 3½ & Luke 2½.

I have so many memories of the place it’s hard to know where to start:-

There are so many people that I would love to see and talk with again. Looking through the years, I am also shocked to see so many people who will no longer be able to exchange memories.

I’ll keep an eye on the website. Looking forward to seeing how it develops. [July ‘06]

Eleanor (Kelly) Bryan: I met my husband Mark here in Dublin before we moved to London in 1985 – as a lot of us either moved to the States or England . We stayed there for 15 years, until 7 years ago when Mark and I moved back with our 3 beautiful kids.  

Now living and working in Bray – I work transporting people with disabilities and also helping people to start-up their own business.  

Would love to catch up with old friends! Well done, Bro Jim on the Website!!! [June'06]  

Colin Lacey: I now live in Cambridge , with my wife of nearly 10 years, Sue, and two lovely daughters, Emma (8) and Katie (7). After repeating the Leaving Certificate in '84 I dropped out of Trinity and went to work in Germany before returning to Galway RTC to study Mechanical Engineering. (I always knew the calculus would come in handy!) After graduating I worked for Thermo King in Galway and Vienna before moving to Cambridge in 1993. I am now Aftersales Director with a commercial catering company based in Aldershot , near Heathrow Airport (South West London).

My parents and extended family still live in Wyattville Close and I get across to visit them a couple of times a year. It’s hard to keep up with the pace of change in Loughlinstown as the walls get higher and the road network and buildings grow.

I still look back with very fond memories on my time at St. Laurence, most notably:

• The rugby team and Seamus Moran's Renault 4 (We used to have to lean over to one side to stop the suspension rubbing on the wheel) and when Gerry Murtagh used to bring his English class out to support us! Plus a great number of fellow pupils who played for Seapoint Rugby Club. Alas torn cruciate ligaments ended my career on the pitch.
• Its great to see photos of Twelfth Night (with my twin Deirdre Moore!), and indeed to remember the punk version of Julius Caesar. And to think that I had Marie Staunton lying on the floor in front of me....."O pardon me thou bleeding piece of earth that I am, meek and gentle with these butchers..."
• Gerry Murtagh's chess club after school, playing Dungeons and Dragons at Brian McGlone's on a Friday night and going to Blinkers at Leopardstown racecourse with Danny Swan and the Costello twins: Declan and Cartan.
• Starting Bro. Jim's Maths class at 08:15 !!!

All in all, it is great to look back on some very happy years. I hope all my past teachers and fellow pupils are keeping well (accepting with sadness those who are no longer with us).

It has been fascinating to read the website and look at all the photos. Well done for keeping those memories going. Keep up the good work. [Nov. '06]

Tina Lowe: NUI graduates have a long history of electing highly principled representatives to the Seanad. This year NUI graduates will again be asked to elect three Senators to the constituency by postal vote.

 Who am I and why vote for me?

My name is Tina Lowe. I am a blind graduate working for AHEAD(Association for Higher Education Access and Disability and run the GET AHEAD - National Forum of Graduates with Disabilities - project which is concerned with employment issues for students and graduates with disabilities.

I lost my sight in 1993 due to a viral meningitis and have since undergone re-training, re-education and re-employment. Coming from the so called "normal" world I have been constantly struck by the inequities and injustices which surround me and which I encounter on a daily basis in the form of the discrimination and ignorance demonstrated by some members of our society. This marginalisation has meant that I have had to battle for my rights. I have worked for my rights and for others by campaigning with potential employers and educationalists to enable more and more disabled people to access both employment and education.

If elected to the Seanad I will not only fight for the rights of my fellow disabled but for the rights of other marginalised groups who also encounter discrimination, alienation and economic disadvantage (for some people the Celtic Tiger has not roared nor even purred). I believe that our society can become more equitable and more just. In order to get basic human rights it is necessary to gain a political voice. As an independent candidate I believe that I can address the issues mentioned above with a real personal insight, honesty and with no hidden agenda.

I will harness all my energy, commitment and drive to secure change and get justice and equality for those who have been marginalised and who are forced to live on the fringes of our society. In order to do this I need your vote . [April '07]

Message from Tina Lowe, Independent candidate for Seanad Eireann on NUI panel:

My full election policies and endorsements for my campaign and information on my personal background can be found on my website: www.tinalowe.ie (Mobile: 087 2872233). [April '07]

Press Release June '07 follows:

Tina Lowe is the first ever blind person to run for the Senate.

She works for AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability) and runs a project called GET AHEAD – the National Forum of Graduates with Disabilities.

Through this unique and innovative project Tina is attempting to change the face of the Irish employment situation for people with disabilities.

Tina’s motto is “by, for and with ourselves” – as she believes that in order to make people change how they treat marginalised groups, in order to get jobs for people and to get rights for people Tina believes that the people who are being marginalised themselves are the very ones who can actually make the most impact by taking positive, practical and pro-active steps to get better treatment, better access to employment, housing, education and transport.

Tina is a very practical, hard-working individual who has an excellent record to date with her work at local level where she has been single-handedly responsible for having changes implemented in her homeplace. Thanks to tireless and relentless campaigning for better and safer crossings in her local area, Shankill can now boast of 5 separate audible traffic light systems. These changes mean that schoolchildren can cross safely, and elderly people from the nursing homes can go shopping independently and get around the area safely.

Therefore as well as seeing the bigger picture at national level Tina also gets changes made at local level, benefiting a wide cross section of society.

Her record with GET AHEAD to date has meant that many people with disabilities are now employed, employers and politicians have been shown that people with disabilities have tremendous abilities. Tina believes that her work not only affects people with disabilities but many more people who are seen as different are gaining rights and a more equitable access to what most people take for granted.

Tina is a highly-educated, articulate person with a very strong voice and strong opinions and also possesses a sense of justice. Having acquired her blindness she has seen both sides and this experience of life coupled with her determination to fight for her rights and the rights of others who have had similar experiences makes her a very capable and honest person who will make a very capable and honest Senator!!!!!!

Vote for Tina Lowe

For further information

Contact:

Tina Lowe on 087 2872233

www.tinalowe.ie Your vote counts!!!!!!!!!! [June '07]

Deirdre Moore: Following 5 very happy years in St. Laurence College, I left at the ripe old age of 17 and headed to UCD to study Social Science thinking. I wanted to be a Social Worker, but found that wasn't for me. So I ended up going from UCD down the road to work in Corporate Banking at AIB's head office in Ballsbridge – where I still am 20 years later!!!....(Sometimes I wonder if I have become somewhat institutionalised, but I really love it and have done well working my way up in Corporate Banking to a Senior Management position....sure why would I leave when they look after me so well!!)

I am currently on 6 months Maternity Leave enjoying life, playing at being housewife for awhile and looking after my two children: Nicole 4 and Gabrielle (5 months) and my hubby Derrick – who I married in 1992 after many, many years of dating...(I brought him to my Debs and that’s not today or yesterday!!)

When I read some of what the people wrote on the website, I couldn't believe what good memories people have. It certainly jogged a few for me. Thanks Colin for reminding me of being your twin. I could hardly quote a line from that play now (sorry Mr. Murtagh, but the memory is not like it used to be).

But I do remember all the house parties in 3rd and 5th year and those innocent games of Spin the Bottle. (Our parents were so good leaving us to our own devices.) Names that spring to mind are Liam, Sean, Jerry, Eamonn, Bridget, Tina, and Maria – to name just a few of the motley crew from the old days.

Also science classes with Mr O'Hanlon (fondly known as Barney before the big purple dinosaur was ever invented)...not sure how I did so well in Physics and Chemistry in the Leaving as I genuinely didn't have a clue what he was talking about, thanks to Brian who sat behind me and played with my hair and tickled my back for most of the class!!

I still see Bridget Whelan a lot. She followed me into AIB a year later. She is great for arranging girls’ nights out. We recently met up for dinner with Janet Kelly (who still looks as gorgeous as ever), Derval and Tina. Janet's twin, Bernard and now known as Ben also works in AIB, as one of the brilliant chefs. So I see him every day.

Thanks again to all the wonderful teachers in the school, especially Madeleine who had a profound effect on a lot of the girls who went through St. Laurence under her stewardship as Dean of Girls. Also to Brothers Jim, Fred, Fr Mike and the many other Brothers who came and went during my 5 years and the many years after – when I was still very much involved with the PP Association and the dances and Christmas Bazaar etc. Madeleine, you certainly taught me a thing or two about setting tables and serving. I loved working on the PP Dance projects when I was in school and would love to see a big PP Dance happening again. It looks like a lot of past pupils would love to come back to Laurences to relive a few memories – even if its just to dance the night away in the gym-cum-'ball room of romance’ where many a good snog took place in the past!!

For the class of '83, let’s make sure we have a reunion in 2008 for our 25th as we missed out on our 20th. I would love to see all the 'young' faces again after all these years. [Dec. 2006]

David Ryan: It's been a long time since leaving. I am hoping that there will be a chance to catch up with some of the class of ‘83.!!! 

On our web page, it was great to read and see what people are doing with there lives.

Well, as for me, I still work with horses – a work I have always loved. I have moved back down to Coolmore Stud in Co. Tipperary where I am once again very happy.

Hoping to hear from others in the class.

Best wishes. [March ‘07]

Martin Wright: I am living in Maynooth, Co. Kildare and married to Claire.  We have two children, David and Rebecca.

I am working in Dublin in a company called Microsol as Telecoms Manager and have been there for almost 16 years.  I still keep in touch with Billy Flynn from the 1977-82 class where I started and he recently joined me with a gang of other friends on a lads' weekend in Dubrovnik.

I would love to hear more about all the others in my class(es). Cheers [Dec 2005]