Class of 79 reunion

What is magical and special about the class of ’79 is not just the fact that we went to school together. It is not the fact that we had many of the same teachers; those memorable characters, one and all. Nor is it the fact that we went to a building called St. Laurence College; in that far off distant time, carefully preserved, back in the heart of our sweetest memories. It is the fact that we are here today, together.

Now, by looking back, we can see around us, those with whom by destiny and by design, we shared those brisk mornings and long sunny days, the seemingly short lunch hours, the endless droning classes and a hesitant future which seemed to stretch into a useless unimaginable infinity, governed by stressed out teachers who managed to make us focus and fit in, somewhere and somehow, into our daily, never ending, school going lives. In reality, it is now that makes us special. It is the realisation, that despite what we have achieved and endured, the secret forgotten hopes, the sometimes endless tasks, the events that always manage to catch us by surprise and dramatically change our short lives, that there is more to us than just our present time.

We know that we are the sum of all our parts and that a part of that is you. It is the fact that we cherish our memories; memories, good or bad that we carry; memories unshared with strangers, unexplained to loved ones, personal and precious jewels, and like forgotten surprises, memories that we can look back on with a smile and never discolour, change or alter with the dust of prejudice that we cannot recognise, and which clothe our thoughts and bring us further along the path to this room today.

So here we are; that is the magic of us from ’74 –’79; of each and every one of you. I think I speak for all, when I express gratitude to each person and each memory you created, for each small kindness, each word of friendship, and simple, honest sense of fun that was so much a part of the innocence of our childhood. It cannot be bought, paid for or negotiated, because it simply exists. It was a gift, a gift to each other, which perhaps, none of you knew you were giving; a gift of sweet memory; a future joy, a limited sense of freedom and upon each reflection, we discover to be an endless source of happiness. Even those who felt miserable at school can now see gladness in those thoughts. I think that each of you is also surprised at how much each has cherished the unexpected memories of that mixed up time we had together.

By some strange co-incidence or accident, we do not get to choose which things we remember most; it is like those memories are meant especially for just you ; a walk across the football field, a lost pen in class, the cover of a book, the school locker and its forgotten, precious contents, a person’s smile, a momentary glance; a moment. (and as some will remember – as Mr. McGuinness used to call it, “a minn-yit” and even today I can still hear those words echoing through time : “pay attention Field, would you ever wake up for just a minn-yit ! there’s a smell of mildew off you !)

And yet, each of us remembers different things with greater emphasis and with each sense of loss we learn that we have gained a precious memory. Sadly, I know that for some strange reason, we will not be able to remember this wonderful day in the same way or with the same sense of affection. This is a different adventure. A day full of joy, fun, warmth and honest friendship which cannot be compared to or have anything like the flavour of our first encounters. It will not even come close; momentous and fulfilling as it is.

This is because when I think of you, and even now when I look at each of you here, so strong are those wonderful memories, that I still see and recognise, as each of you do, the innocent, mischievous, sometimes troublesome but nonetheless, sweet child that each of us knew way back when (that description probably best fits Stephen McNally or John Fiddler here).

It is only now that we are beginning to realise that we knew each other better than we thought, that we had more fun and laughter than we can remember and, like so many things, how quickly those school days appeared and disappeared in the dizzy blur that we have come to call our lives. Like so much else in school, of this, we cannot say that we were not told.

Thanks to all your efforts, this friendship and sense of freedom can be shared one more brief time for just one second longer today. Probably like you, even having met you again today, when I think of you, it is the fresh seventeen year old, shiny-eyed youth that I remember and I have call to often do so, because through knowing each other, some in small and greater ways, we shaped each other’s points of view, strained each other’s thoughts (and patience), explored each other’s aspirations, hopes and dreams and so then began to mould what seems now like, our pre-destined lives.

For all of us, and for some more than others, the path to this door has been partly paved with missed opportunities, mixed fortunes and maybe some mistakes. Like our previous times together, they too are behind us. For those who were part of our past and with whom we will not get that second chance to nod and simply say thanks, we can now, with some humility, bow to their memory and without choice, we find that we cherish that too.

Simply by being here, by saying “hello,” by not being afraid to come along, to hope and know that no judgment would be made of who you are, who you have become, how you have succeeded or failed in the game of life, you have acknowledged your memory and your thanks and that is much more than enough.

What we face in the future we can now more wisely guess, but we do not know with any real certainty what it will be. Wherever we go, whatever we now set out to do, however we want to try to find or achieve our remaining goals or to forgive and forget them, we have each other’s recognition, each other’s respect, each others lasting friendship and the deepest sense of gratitude.

Thank you. Shane O’Faolain 14th November 2009.

AND Thanks to Anne Marie, Ben Farrell, John Field, Bro Jim, all the staff, all of you, along with the management Guinness Corporation and those unsung heroes and administrative staff.


	Class 1974-1979
Back to Classlist	Reunion 14 November 2009 (Be sure to see all 6 pages of pics by clicking on the links to the right. )	Pics 1 2 3 4 5 6


St. Laurence College -- School Re-union Speech -- Saturday, 14th November 2009 Ladies and Gentlemen, Staff Members, any possible or improbable distinguished Guests, and the class of ’79 (who I see as a distinct group from those I have just mentioned……..)
Thank you for coming, you are all very welcome and it is truly great to see so many of you here. Great to see so much hair too! I haven’t seen that since ’79….. Given that I have a clue as to your approximate ages; can the strong colour and youthful looks be “Just for the men”? The college website manager might consider seeking sponsorship from a growing captive audience……. Before I begin proper, I would like to thank and acknowledge the great effort and distance some people have somehow managed to overcome to be here today. I also wish to thank all those involved in today’s event ……. By many a strange twist of fate, I have the honour of addressing you all here today. But it is not in that alone, that I am honoured. However, because this is our event, I hope that the sentiments of this address are as much a reflection of your thoughts and are all about you, more than they are about me and my thoughts.			.
What is magical and special about the class of ’79 is not just the fact that we went to school together. It is not the fact that we had many of the same teachers; those memorable characters, one and all. Nor is it the fact that we went to a building called St. Laurence College; in that far off distant time, carefully preserved, back in the heart of our sweetest memories. It is the fact that we are here today, together. Now, by looking back, we can see around us, those with whom by destiny and by design, we shared those brisk mornings and long sunny days, the seemingly short lunch hours, the endless droning classes and a hesitant future which seemed to stretch into a useless unimaginable infinity, governed by stressed out teachers who managed to make us focus and fit in, somewhere and somehow, into our daily, never ending, school going lives. In reality, it is now that makes us special. It is the realisation, that despite what we have achieved and endured, the secret forgotten hopes, the sometimes endless tasks, the events that always manage to catch us by surprise and dramatically change our short lives, that there is more to us than just our present time. We know that we are the sum of all our parts and that a part of that is you. It is the fact that we cherish our memories; memories, good or bad that we carry; memories unshared with strangers, unexplained to loved ones, personal and precious jewels, and like forgotten surprises, memories that we can look back on with a smile and never discolour, change or alter with the dust of prejudice that we cannot recognise, and which clothe our thoughts and bring us further along the path to this room today. So here we are; that is the magic of us from ’74 –’79; of each and every one of you. I think I speak for all, when I express gratitude to each person and each memory you created, for each small kindness, each word of friendship, and simple, honest sense of fun that was so much a part of the innocence of our childhood. It cannot be bought, paid for or negotiated, because it simply exists. It was a gift, a gift to each other, which perhaps, none of you knew you were giving; a gift of sweet memory; a future joy, a limited sense of freedom and upon each reflection, we discover to be an endless source of happiness. Even those who felt miserable at school can now see gladness in those thoughts. I think that each of you is also surprised at how much each has cherished the unexpected memories of that mixed up time we had together. By some strange co-incidence or accident, we do not get to choose which things we remember most; it is like those memories are meant especially for just you ; a walk across the football field, a lost pen in class, the cover of a book, the school locker and its forgotten, precious contents, a person’s smile, a momentary glance; a moment. (and as some will remember – as Mr. McGuinness used to call it, “a minn-yit” and even today I can still hear those words echoing through time : “pay attention Field, would you ever wake up for just a minn-yit ! there’s a smell of mildew off you !) And yet, each of us remembers different things with greater emphasis and with each sense of loss we learn that we have gained a precious memory. Sadly, I know that for some strange reason, we will not be able to remember this wonderful day in the same way or with the same sense of affection. This is a different adventure. A day full of joy, fun, warmth and honest friendship which cannot be compared to or have anything like the flavour of our first encounters. It will not even come close; momentous and fulfilling as it is. This is because when I think of you, and even now when I look at each of you here, so strong are those wonderful memories, that I still see and recognise, as each of you do, the innocent, mischievous, sometimes troublesome but nonetheless, sweet child that each of us knew way back when (that description probably best fits Stephen McNally or John Fiddler here). It is only now that we are beginning to realise that we knew each other better than we thought, that we had more fun and laughter than we can remember and, like so many things, how quickly those school days appeared and disappeared in the dizzy blur that we have come to call our lives. Like so much else in school, of this, we cannot say that we were not told. Thanks to all your efforts, this friendship and sense of freedom can be shared one more brief time for just one second longer today. Probably like you, even having met you again today, when I think of you, it is the fresh seventeen year old, shiny-eyed youth that I remember and I have call to often do so, because through knowing each other, some in small and greater ways, we shaped each other’s points of view, strained each other’s thoughts (and patience), explored each other’s aspirations, hopes and dreams and so then began to mould what seems now like, our pre-destined lives. For all of us, and for some more than others, the path to this door has been partly paved with missed opportunities, mixed fortunes and maybe some mistakes. Like our previous times together, they too are behind us. For those who were part of our past and with whom we will not get that second chance to nod and simply say thanks, we can now, with some humility, bow to their memory and without choice, we find that we cherish that too. Simply by being here, by saying “hello,” by not being afraid to come along, to hope and know that no judgment would be made of who you are, who you have become, how you have succeeded or failed in the game of life, you have acknowledged your memory and your thanks and that is much more than enough. What we face in the future we can now more wisely guess, but we do not know with any real certainty what it will be. Wherever we go, whatever we now set out to do, however we want to try to find or achieve our remaining goals or to forgive and forget them, we have each other’s recognition, each other’s respect, each others lasting friendship and the deepest sense of gratitude. Thank you. Shane O’Faolain 14th November 2009. AND Thanks to Anne Marie, Ben Farrell, John Field, Bro Jim, all the staff, all of you, along with the management Guinness Corporation and those unsung heroes and administrative staff.