To the class of ’77.

Hi to everybody.

February 24th 2007 has been added to my list of most memorable life-dates. I started to write that I had the delightful experience of finding thirty years rolled back but ‘twas really thirty-five years which disappeared. Thank you all. It was a delightful reunion and so good to find that jointly and separately we shared a whole portfolio of brilliant memories – and now have added one more.

Many of you were kind enough to lie to me – that I hadn’t changed at all! Hmhm. But there was a lesson you taught me all those years ago which I have often mentioned since and forgot to tell at the Mansion House. Here goes.

Do you perchance remember our 10-year Celebration of SLC in May ’77? A football blitz was one of the events. And you were, of course, the senior team in the College. Just after the end of the final match of the day, I was wandering past the Library steps and found your team sitting there looking very woebegone. I heard you’d been beaten. So at first I slagged you a bit. Then, realising you were serious, I tried to console with “ferverinos” that you had played well and so on and losing was no disgrace. But you set me straight. You explained that you had no problem with losing. What hurt was that you had been beaten “by the auld fellas”. The “auld fellas” were the class of ’72, at that time all of 22 or 23 years old. It cured me forever of having hang-ups about advancing years. From some perspectives twenty-three is over the hill!

I was delighted and privileged to hear so many of your stories since. My only reservation was that I’d have loved to have at least half-an-hour – preferably more – with each of you.

I add my voice to all the others in complimenting Lonan and Dermot and everyone else who worked to bring us all together and from so many distant as well as nearby places. I sincerely hope that we will not wait another thirty years to do it again.

Meanwhile – as I’m quite sure I told you in ’77 – if I can ever be useful, feel welcome to contact me. I remain so proud of you all – everybody at the reunion and those who could not make it this time.

Blessings upon you all. With great affection,

Madeleine O Shea.