Old Columban So ciety
T H E B U L L E T I N
No. 75 May 2020 1 Old Columban So ciety BULLETIN
No 75 May 2020 Old Columban Society Officers
President W.I. Fraser, Benedin, Windgate Rise, Howth, Co Dublin D13 YV 00. 086 246 0450; email ianfraser110gmail.com
Vice-Presidents T.E. Macey, D.S. Gibbs, N.H. Lush, The Warden, L.J. Haslett, J.N. White, J.M. Girdham, R. Johnson, N.F.D. Falkiner.
Secretary G.L. Brooks, Grouse Lodge, Ballinteer Road, Dublin,16. 087 256 7019 email [email protected]
Treasurer E. A. Brooks. 086 825 5985
Editor of The Bulletin N.F.D. Falkiner, The Creek, 18 Strand Road, Sutton, Dublin 13. 087 210 6840 email [email protected]
The Committee
J. Baker, L. Canning, C.D.S. Foster, D.G.P. Gleeson, A. Heidenfeld, K.T. Large, S.M. Lawn, A.H. Luce, R. Mills, F.H. Morris, O.P. Nolan, B.P. Pickering, K.Smith.
Bursary Fund Chair J.N. White, 142 Silchester Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin. 01-2808364 and 087 259 4729.
Business Chair Róisín Mills 086 044 6444; email [email protected]
College Representative J.M. Girdham, St Columba’s College.
Golf Secretaries K.T. Large 087 256 1367; email [email protected] G.L. Brooks 087 256 7019; email [email protected]
Governance Chair B.P. Pickering 086 226 6701 email [email protected]
Nominations Chair C.D. S. Foster 087 967 1141; email [email protected]
Social Events Chair Róisín Mills 086 044 6444 email [email protected]
Website Chair K. Smith 087 756 4411; email [email protected] and www.oldcolumbansociety.com 2
Members Contact Details
To make sure that the Society has your current details, please contact Sonia Young, Membership Secretary, either by email: [email protected] or Tel: + 353 1 495 6919.. In particular, to change your postal address, again contact [email protected] , or write to Sonia Young at The Development Office, St Columba’s College, Whitechurch, Dublin, 16. Sonia Young College Development Office.
FROM THE NEW EDITOR
Back in 1976, when I was a pupil at St Columba’s and my history essays were regularly subjected to Ninian Falkiner’s scrutiny, I could never have imagined that one day he would ask me to take over the editorship of The Bulletin . While I am delighted to be stepping into Ninian’s shoes, I am also honoured and not a little daunted to be following in the wake of such a distinguished and long-serving editor. For the past 34 years Ninian’s work on the The Bulletin has been central to maintaining links and sharing news amongst the Old Columban community. The print run is on the way to 3,000: every year copies are posted to every corner of the world. The Bulletin was first published about 70 years ago and as the fifth editor, I intend to uphold the tradition of producing a stand-alone printed magazine. These days we are spoilt for choice as consumers of information, and there are many platforms for the dissemination of Old Columban news. But for the Society’s Committee there is no substitute for leafing through a real journal. The Bulletin might be on the kitchen table where your eye will fall on news of a former classmate or some other item about the old school. Or you might choose to settle into the sofa and spend half an hour reading it from cover to cover. Either way The Bulletin provides a vivid annual snapshot of Old Columban and of College news. Colour photos and videos may be found in abundance on the website and Facebook. Regular updates about our activities will still be emailed out by Julian Girdham in the The Newsletter, but we intend to keep publishing The Bulletin in its current format. It will be a privilege and a pleasure to take on the role of Editor and I hope that, with the assistance of an editorial committee, and in particular the essential support of Julian Girdham and Ninian Falkiner, we can continue to produce an interesting and informative journal for all Old Columbans. Most of all, we rely on you, our readers and contributors. Please send in your news – anything from 7 to 70 words or more – about yourself and what you are doing. Alice Luce (1975)
THE BULLETIN 2021
The Society’s Bulletin Sub-Committee is made up of: Alice Luce (Editor), Ninian Falkiner, Julian Girdham and Kenneth Large. Gathering in items of news from Old Columbans is the hardest part of the work of producing The Bulletin , while ‘News of Old Columbans’ is, we are often told, the most popular part of The Bulletin. Items of Old Columban news should be sent to one of the following: Alice Luce: [email protected] Ninian Falkiner: [email protected] John Fanagan: [email protected] Julian Girdham: [email protected] Peter McCarthy: [email protected] 3
Fraser Morris: [email protected] Donna Sherwood: [email protected]
ELECTRONIC COPY OF THE BULLETIN A copy of this edition of The Bulletin can be downloaded from the Society’s website.
THE OLD COLUMBAN EMAIL NEWSLETTER
Over 1,600 members of the Society receive emails from the Society roughly every month, giving details of Society events and much more. If you are not on the list and would like to be, send an email to Sonia Young at [email protected] .
The Society can be found at its new public page www.facebook.com/oldcolumbans . There members may also apply to join the Closed Group; this is strictly for Old Columbans who are fully-subscribed members of the Society, and is where most Old Columban Society news is posted: www.facebook.com/groups/1430490107078051/ .
THE SOCIETY’S WEBSITE
The Society’s website is the repository of all Old Columban Society and other Old Columban- related happenings. On it you can find reports and photographs of the Society’s parties and reunions and articles published in the newspapers about Old Columbans. I would encourage everybody to send in their photos and news. You can send them to [email protected] . In 2019 and 2020 we have used the website to inform Old Columbans about up and coming events with a much smarter email presentation and with a capacity to include images and infographics. I can recommend checking the online Calendar from time to time to see what events are happening near you throughout the year. The growing London Business Network and the Dublin Business Network are certainly matters that you will see more of in 2020. Website security is of paramount importance to the Society and thanks to the vigilance of our technical website consultant, Clare McSharry, I can report that there have been no breaches or problems. There have been a number of attempted hacks, primarily from Russia. Thankfully our systems have kept them out and our data are safe. If you have not already registered please go to www.oldcolumbansociety.com . K. Smith (1983)
THE SOCIETY’S EVENTS
Looking back at 2019 the Society has seen a rise in the number of its events, and more importantly a rise in the number of younger Old Columbans coming to events. We as a society aim to run events that our members would like to attend, and with that in mind we have a plan to extend Business Networking to other countries. In late 2018 we set up the London branch of Business Networking and have had three events in London since then. We are looking to have a Business & Banter evening every three months in and around the City of London. We hope to extend Business Networking to Germany and to Asia over the next three years. The Society worked on its first joint event with the Parents’ Association for the College’s Career’s Night, which was a great success, with the Vth and VIth Formers having fireside talks with Old Columbans. We have 11 events planned for in 2020 which is the busiest calendar in the Society’s history. 4
Due to Covid19 we will be reviewing events on a monthly basis, and cancelling or postponing events a month in advance. Please keep an eye on www.oldcolumbansociety.com for changes to the Events Calendar. As I write this report most of the world is on lockdown with Covid19 with events being held online. Who knows where we will be in three months’ time. I'd like to thank all those on the events committee, John Fanagan, John White, Kenneth Large, Kieran Smith, and our in-country hosts, Thomas Heidenfeld (Germany), Rupert Foster (UK) and Miriam Shewry (UK) and Dominick Donnelly and Arthur Jackson (Cork) for all their help and support in organising the events calandar. Be well and keep safe. Róisín Mills Events Chair
THE OLD COLUMBAN SOCIETY BURSARY FUND
Members of the Bursary Fund sub-committee were deeply saddened on learning of the death of The O’Morchoe in November 2019. David O’Morchoe was one of the original instigators and architects of the Fund in 2011 and was its Chair from the beginning until his death. Without his extraordinary commitment, experience and wise counsel, it certainly would not have been as successful as it has been. We are deeply grateful to him. The Fund, launched just nine years ago in 2011, continues to grow steadily in strength and purpose. We are encouraged that we have been able to contribute substantially to the fees for nine pupils (all children or grandchildren of Old Columbans) over these years. There are currently five in receipt of the Society’s bursaries. This is one of the greatest achievements of the Society and would not have been possible without the generosity and loyalty of those who have contributed. We are so grateful to those who, even in this time of terrifying world uncertainty, are continuing with their much valued support. However it remains frustrating that so many Old Columbans have not so far responded. It may well be that they are donating to other very worthwhile charities. We ask that they carefully consider contributing to this Fund which is of real benefit to Old Columbans and in turn the College itself. One can only imagine the exciting possibilities! The favourite name, which some of us have for the fund, is "The Acorn". We firmly believe that it will continue to grow and grow to have a stronger trunk, producing more and more branches and healthy leaves. We strongly encourage those of you who are in a position to do so, and have not yet joined us on this exciting journey, to consider doing so, so that the Fund can continue to flourish and help more Old Columban families, and with larger bursaries, well into the future. For convenience a form is enclosed with this copy of The Bulletin , or one can follow this Link online www.oldcolumbansociety.com . Alternatively you may contact John White at 087 259 4729; email [email protected] . J.N. White (1963) Chair
A Lasting Legacy – a Gift of Education
If you choose to remember the College in your will and would like to allocate your legacy to a specific purpose, or to honour a named individual or family, you may like to discuss in confidence your intentions with the College by contacting the Development Manager, Sonia Young, or the Warden, by telephone on +353 1 495 6919, or by email [email protected] , to ensure that your intentions are understood and that the College can act on your wishes. The College is hugely grateful to those Old Columbans who have already left or pledged a legacy to the College. 5
A small area, called the Legacy Garden, in the newly landscaped garden outside the Library, has been established. S.A. Barcroft (1948) has kindly donated white roses planted in memory of his father, C.L. Barcroft (1917).
Applications for a Bursary
Old Columbans who wish to apply for an Old Columban Society bursary should contact the Warden at the College (St Columba’s College, Whitechurch, D16 CH82. Telephone 01- 490 6791; Fax: 01 493 6655; email [email protected] ).
THE COLLEGE PROSPECTUS
The College prospectus, which includes 12 testimonials by Old Columbans, may be obtained by all Old Columbans with children of school-going age. Please contact Amanda Morris, Admissions, St Columba’s College, Whitechurch, D16 CH82; by email [email protected] ; telephone 01-490 6791.
KILMASHOGUE GOLF CLUB
The College Golf Course
New Applicants
The Kilmashogue Golf Club is making a one year introductory offer costing €599. The Club, which is affiliated to the GUI and to the ILGU, is run by its members and is located at the College which owns and maintains the course. It is a 9-hole parkland course with opportunities to represent the Club at inter-club GUI and ILGU competitions. Members may bring immediate family to play (for €10.00; juniors €5.00). A guest may be brought to the regular semi-open competitions. All members have the opportunity to play seven days a week and there is easy access to the first tee with no delays. There are many social events held throughout the year in the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of the Clubhouse. Please contact the Bursar at the College [email protected] for more details.
SOCIETY BUSINESS
The Annual General Meeting 2020
The Annual General meeting of the Society will be held on Tuesday October 6th 2020 at the Kildare Street and University Club, 17, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, commencing at 6.15 pm.
Report on the Annual General Meeting of 2019
The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held on Tuesday October 8th 2019 in the College in the newly opened Whispering House. The Society’s full programme of activities continued to operate throughout the year with reports from the Society’s various sub-committees presented at Committee meetings and at the Annual General Meeting. The Bursary Fund sub-committee, which operates under the auspices of the College’s Development Board, was responsible for securing an ongoing charitable donation which will have a considerable impact on the Fund for the duration of its existence. 6
The Social and Sports sub-committee has had its title changed to the more manageable “Events” sub-committee. As usual, it produced a calendar full of events, with functions in London and in Munich and an upcoming dinner in Cork in October 2019. Our recently adopted new rules had the effect of the formation of a Nominations sub- committee, under the Chair of Charles Foster, to give continuity and balance to the membership of the Society’s Committee and to bring forward suitable candidates. The Business Networking sub-committee, headed by Roisin Mills (who has been asked by the Warden to assist with certain projects in the College) is also gathering momentum, holding a successful function in London. A member of the Committee, Glascott Symes, represented the Society and the College at the laying of a wreath in memory of fallen Old Columbans at the Royal British Legion ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance, Islandbridge. Finally, and by no means least, we found a Treasurer for the Society, Ted Brooks, who was welcomed to the Committee. Retirements from the Committee have been received during the year from Jonathan Moore, Glascott Symes and Ninian Falkiner (who steps down in May 2020 as Editor of The Bulletin ). We thank them all for their valuable and considerable contributions to the Society. A special tribute was paid at the meeting to Robin Simpson, a former Treasurer of the Society and active Committee Member, who had sadly passed away earlier in the year. G.L. Brooks (1960) Honorary Secretary
SOCIETY EVENTS 2019-2020
Munich Party June 2019
The Society’s party in Germany was held in the Hofbrauhaus in Munich on Friday 28th June 2019. The event was organised by Roisin Mills and Kieran Smith. Those attending covered the years 1979 to 2019 and included many younger Old Columbans. The event reflects the close and now traditional link between the College and Germany. The following attended this much enjoyed gathering: Henry Armstrong, John Bielenski, Marie-Alice Eichorn, Mary Gordon, Donata von der Gröben, Ferdinand Hanika, Anna Heidenfeld, Thomas Heidenfeld, Theresa Kruse, William McKinney, Nicolo Morabito, Roisin Mills, Valdemar Morabito, Ute Prilipp, Benedik von Raben, Moritz Reichert, Katharina Schenk, Ulrick Schenk, Kristian Schnittger, Kieran Smith, Phillipa Spieth, Johannes Stolberg, Antonius Stolberg-Stolberg, Wieland Sommer, Constantin von Wangenheim, Cecilia Willisch (née von Eyb), Christoph Willisch.
Golf Outing September 2019
Owing to a limited enthusiasm for the 2019 golf outing the outing sadly had to be cancelled. However in 2020 the event will once again be held.
Cork Dinner October 2019
A dinner was held in the Montenotte Hotel, Cork, on Saturday 12th October 2019. The event was organised by Dominic Donnelly and Roisin Mills with the assistance of John Fanagan and of Arthur Jackson. The Mr Barnardo Film of the College in the 1930s was shown and much enjoyed. The following were present at this happy event: John Atkins, Andy Bielenberg, the Warden Mark Boobbyer, Michael and Claire Daniels, Dominic Donnelly, Ninian Falkiner, John Fanagan, Christopher Fettes, Conrad Frankel, Gavin 7
Frankel, Patrick Frankel, Arthur Jackson, Timothy Jackson, Natasha Kilcoyne, Tim Lucas, Roisin Mills, Danni Mura, James Robinson, Maurice Taylor, Dirk Tinné, Neil Walker.
Leavers Party December 16th 2019
The annual Leavers’ Party, hosted by the Society, was held in The Pavilion Bar in Trinity College Dublin on Monday December 16th 2019. The following from the years 2018 and 2019 attended: Felix Alyn Morgan, Kate Bewley, Catherine Butt, Henry Carroll, Sean Cooper, Helen Crampton, Sebastian Fitzgibbon, Joseph Gernon, Benjamin Gleeson, Toby Green, Nyla Jamieson, Sinclair Jones, Georgia Keegan-Wignall, Harry Kelly, Alex Lawrence, Leonor Lopes, Conall Mathur-Dix, Ivan Moffitt, Kitty Morris, Tiernan Mullane, Adam Murphy, Harry Oke-Osanyintolu, Alex Russell, Stefan Tonge, Isabelle Townshend, Sophie Wainwright, David White, Hector Wright, William Zitzmann. Apologies were received from Orla Conlon Batey, Alexandra Murray- Donaldson and George Guinness. Also present were the President of the Society, Ian Fraser, and the Warden, Mark Boobbyer, as well as Cathy Boobbyer, Geoffrey Brooks, Ninian Falkiner, John Fanagan, Róisín Mills, John White.
Business and Banter Networking Evening in London January 15th 2020
A Business and Banter Networking evening was held in London on January 15th 2020. It was organised by Miriam Shrewy and Rupert Foster, the Society’s London Business Network leads, with the support of Róisín Mills, Chair of the Society’s Events sub-committee. The momentum from the previous London event was reflected by the attendance of 29 Old Columbans from numerous sectors and several generations. Present were Aisha Burke, Andrew Brady, Aidan Chisholm, Rupert Foster, Lilian Glennon, Richard Gough, Gary Gough, Ciara Gumsheimer, Ryan Gumsheimer, Richard Hartweck, Maria Herrero, Gordon Judge, Jean-Paul Laurenceau, Dickon Levinge, Alex Lawrence, Lucy Maxwell- Brown, Roisin Mills, Joe Moran, Tiernan Mullane, Tim Pettigrew, Martin Priestley, Max Robinson, Alex Russell, Sheilds Russell, Lucien Sands, Daniel Shaw-Smith, Miriam Shewry, Natalie Verwijs. The Society’s Business Networking provides contacts for students and graduates entering the business world to make connections with other Old Columbans at all levels of their career. There will be a second London Business Networking event on Wednesday 16th September 2020 at the Christopher Hatton Pub, Holborn. Old Columbans are invited to join our LinkedIn group at www.linkedin.com/groups/8577577/ where they can share business ideas, requests, and thoughts. For specific inquiries contact: [email protected] . R.L.S Foster (1982)
Ten Year Reunion 2009-2019
A reunion of those who left the College in 2009 was held in Dublin on the weekend of September 20th and 21st 2019. On the Friday evening some gathered at Bar 37 on Dawson Street. On the Saturday a group was welcomed to the College by the Warden, Mark Boobbyer, for tea in the Drawing Room. The Sub- Warden, Julian Girdham, conducted his by now traditional tour of the College. In the evening a dinner was held at the Market Bar, Fade Street, Dublin, and later there were further celebrations in the Krystle night club. The reunion was organised by Rebecca Feeney-Barry with the help of David Beresford and Shane Lavin. 8
The following attended at least some part of the weekend’s events: Morgan Appleby, Moritz Baring, Serge Bauvet, David Beresford, Jacob von Bulow, Sandy Cole, Dave Cooper, Johnny Cooper, Victoria Cooper, Allen Crampton, James Crampton, Hal Downer, Annie Dunne, Holly Elliot O’Neill, Killian Elliot O’Neill, John Fanagan (former Senior Master), Rebecca Feeney-Barry, Ross Gilmour, John Hargan, Isobel Hunter, Poppy Hunter, Emma Klyne, Shane Lavin, Margerete Luckner, Crispin Maenpaa, Millie Matthews, Piers Milner, Alvaro Novoa, Mia Peters, Rebecca Roe, Oliver Smith, Sam Stevens, Lavinia Thelen, Helene Tonner, Rosie Wentges, Sarah Wilson.
Twenty Year Reunion 1999-2019
On Saturday 12th October 2019 a party of Old Columbans who left the College in 1999 were given a tour of the College by the Sub-Warden, Julian Girdham. Also the Warden, Mark Boobbyer, Richard Brett, Liam Canning, Paul Cron, Peter McCarthy, and Fraser Morris welcomed them. In the early evening there was a gathering for drinks at the Shelbourne Hotel, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin. Later a dinner was held at The Grayson, Dublin. Marta Castresana, Jamie Macken, Richard Mayne and Philip McKinley were the organisers of the reunion. The following attended: Olumide Awofala, Ryan Black-Macken, Oddie Braddell, Kevin Campbell, Marta Castresana, Charlie Day, Ben Deacon, Matthew Fearon, Colin Fitzpatrick, Matthew Fortune, Felicia Furstner, Holger Hoffmeister, Elena Höppner, Andrew Kidd, Jamie Macken, Richard Mayne, Philip McKinley, Vincent Mulvey, Hugh Passmore, Jack Penruddock, Nicola Pierpoint, Cornelius Polter, Hazel Ruane, Maja Rollin, Maxe Schroth, Tristan Skinner, Peter Taggart, Friedrich Wahnschaffe, Max Waldburg, Lee Wong, Maria Zubiaga.
Thirty Year Reunion 1989-2019
A reunion of those who left the College in 1989 was held on Friday June 21st 2019.The event was held at Marker Hotel, Dublin, and was organised by Des Gleeson, Oisín Nolan, Jeanne Morgan and Róisín Mills. The following attended this much enjoyed event: Emmet Daly, Antoinette Byrne, Paul Fahey, Orla Fitzpatrick, Des Gleeson, Charlotte Howard, Duncan Johnson, Severin Johnson, Ken Kingston, Marni Laux, James Leslie, Alice Madden, John Miller, Róisín Mills, Jeanne Morgan, Oisin Nolan, Penny Nesbitt, Bronwyn Owens, Patrick Passmore, Seamus Raben, Alannah Robins, Dirk Tinné.
Forty Year Reunion 1979-2019
The reunion of those who left the College in 1979 was held over the weekend of Friday 8th and Saturday 9th November 2019. The events of the reunion were organised by Karen Farrar and Sean Dempster. On the Friday evening there was a gathering in The Queen’s Inn Dalkey, where food and drinks were enjoyed. The main event was on Saturday when a dinner was held in the evening in Leopardstown, Co Dublin. There was a tour of the College by their contemporary Julian Girdham, the Sub-Warden. There were fond memories shared of the Dining Hall, Cloister Cricket and the Chapel. Lesser events included some golf, swimming in the Forty Foot in Sandycove and a walk in the hills above the College. Sean Dempster writes, “Forty years had slipped by, we’d all changed a bit but, as always in Ireland we just took up where we had left off and it was a truly heartwarming weekend spent with many old friends”. The following attended one or more of these events: Sue Burkitt, Johnny Bonham, Rosanna Booth, Fiona Clements, Sean Dempster, Ninian Falkiner , 9
John Fanagan, Karen Farrar, Biddy Flinn, Stuart Fogarty, Denis Goodbody, Charlie Hackett, Anna Healy-Fenton, Peter Hudson, Patrick Jackson, Gordon Judge, Dawn Johnston, Barry Lalor, Kenneth Large, William McKinney, Richard (Bud) and Eve McMullen, Oliver Merton, Eddie Nicholson, Eliza O’Grady, Keith Perdue, Olga Price, Peter Rooke, Thomasina Sawyer, Alastair Sharman, Jill Wright.
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SOCIETY EVENTS 2020-2021
Tower of London Event Friday 26th June 2020 London [email protected]
London Business Network Business and Banter Wednesday September 16th 2020 at the Sir Christopher Hatton Pub, Holborn, London
Annual General Meeting 6.15pm on Tuesday October 6th 2020 Kildare Street & University Club
Annual Golf Outing Friday October 16th 2020 at Kilmashogue Golf Course
Those who wish to play should contact Kenneth Large [email protected] ; 087 256 1367; fax 01 8557409, or Geoffrey Brooks [email protected] ; 087 256 7019.
Careers Night Friday October 16th 2020 at the Whispering House [email protected]
Dublin Dinner Saturday November 14th 2020 at Sophie’s at the Dean, Dublin. [email protected]
Dublin Business Networking Event Monday November 30th 2020 [email protected]
All the above dates are subject to Government Covid19 guidelines 10
Leavers Party December Monday 2020
The annual Leavers Party will be held in The Pavilion Bar, Trinity College Dublin, on Monday December 14th 2020 from 6.30pm to 8.00pm. This event is open to those who left the College in 2019 and 2020.
Reunions 2020-21
Ten Year Reunion: 2010-2020: a reunion of those who left the College in 2010 will be held on Saturday 19th September 2020. Fred Mann is organising the event and should be contacted at [email protected] .
Twenty Year Reunion: 2000-2020: a reunion of those who left the College in 2000 will be held on Saturday 3rd October 2020. Julian Riemenschneider is organising the reunion and should be contacted at [email protected].
The Society can be found at its public page www.facebook.com/oldcolumbans . There members of the Society may also apply to join the Closed Group; this is strictly for Old Columbans who are fully-subscribed members of the Society. It is where Old Columban Society news is posted: www.facebook.com/groups/1430490107078051/.
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY
This has been another busy year for the Society. It has also been a sad one with the death of The O’Morchoe, a Vice-President of the Society, who always supported the Society and its activities, in particular the Bursary Fund. The Society under its new rules limiting the time of service continues to recruit new members to the Committee. Des Gleeson, who has a child in the College, has joined the Committee, as has Liam Canning, former Housemaster of Stackallan. We said goodbye to Glascott Symes who so graciously gave of his time and good judgement over many years, including some years as Honorary Secretary. Jonathan Moore played a major part in initiating the Business Network and now must give more time to his work as a barrister. Under the new rules, John Fanagan also retired from the Committee, having done great work for ten years organising many of the Society’s parties. Charles Foster is chair of the Nominations Sub-Committee whose job is to identify Old Columbans who might wish to serve on the Committee. The Society is eager to lower the age profile of the Committee and to have more women involved in its work. The College’s Development Board is now responsible for raising funds for the Society’s Bursary Fund (as well of course for the College’s Building Fund, so important to its future well-being, given that the College depends on donations for its development). The Annual General Meeting in October 2019 was held in the new Whispering House. It is a singularly impressive building which is proving popular with the pupils in the College. Old Columbans are encouraged to visit it. The Old Columban Bulletin will in future be in the safe and skilful hands of its new editor Alice Luce. A qualified teacher, she has worked for newspapers and other organisations in the field of editing and communicating. Ninian Falkiner, who edited The Bulletin for 34 years, and before that had been Honorary Secretary for ten years, was elected a Vice-President of the Society in recognition of his services to the Society. 11
I would like to thank also the very active Events Sub-Committee which is chaired by the tireless Róisín Mills. There have been parties in Cork, London and Munich, as well as the Leavers Party. Róisín Mills also chairs the Society’s Business Network. This is a highly important recent initiative designed to bring Old Columbans together in a business framework to share experiences and ideas. In June of this year, subject to Covid19 guidelines, the Warden hopes to lead a party of Old Columbans and others to Ypres in Flanders. A plaque will be placed, alongside other such school plaques, in St George’s Memorial Chapel in memory of the 70 Old Columbans and members of staff who fell during the conflict. This autumn I will be stepping down as President of the Society. It has been a great privilege to have served. It is important that Old Columbans who have the time contribute to the work of the Society. Then they should step back and let others take over. Floreat Columba et Floreant Columbanenses W.I. Fraser (1966)
FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FELLOWS
I am pleased to have this opportunity to write what is my final report to the Old Columban Society as Chairman of the Fellows. It provides me with the opportunity to reflect on the last five years, since I was asked to take on the role of Chairman in September 2014. I can say with some confidence that it has been a most progressive period in the history of the College. At the outset, I inherited, and ensured that we followed through with, the strategic programme which had been set out at the conclusion of Ian Roberts’ Chairmanship. An early priority was to complete the review of the College Statutes, which was concluded in September 2015; a key change was to restrict the tenure of a Fellow to a maximum of two terms of five years. This change has had a most positive effect, with a complete refresh of the participating Fellows. When I stand down in June, I will be the longest serving Fellow, having been elected in 2010. We now have a full quota of Fellows, with an excellent representation from the two generations younger than me, and an encouraging pipeline of candidates. More recently, we have completed the review of the framework for the Board of Management, and enhanced its agenda to ensure it has more oversight of the policies and procedures of the school. This has ensured strengthened compliance with current legislation. Importantly, continuity with the Fellows’ agenda is ensured by the Chairman of the Fellows also now chairing the Board of Management. One of my first challenges was to recruit a new Warden, to succeed Dr Lindsay Haslett on his retirement at the end of the 2015-2016 academic year. This now seems a distant task, as Mark Boobbyer is so well established in the role. Mark has brought a refreshing enthusiasm to life at the College, illustrated by his innovative approach to the structure of St Columba’s Day speeches and prize giving. With his wife Cathy, they have engaged enthusiastically with pupils, parents and Old Columbans. Those of us who travelled to Iona as part of the College’s 175th anniversary year enjoyed a special experience, which added much to what was a most successful year of celebration throughout 2018. My annual reports to the Old Columban Society have conveyed the increasing interest in the College amongst first-time parents, as a result of the strategic decision to reduce our Day and Day Boarder fees to bring us in line with other private schools in South County Dublin. This level of interest has continued unabated, and Day/Day Boarder numbers this year are currently at 95. This has ensured that we have retained a good balance of Irish students at the College, at a time when it is still a challenge to attract Irish Boarders, particularly in the early school years. Nevertheless, we are also at full boarding capacity of 240; we continue to experience strong demand from Europe. The Fellows have remained committed to restricting the size of the College 12 to a maximum of 350. I advised you last year about the development of the new Social Centre in the Warden’s Garden, which has now been completed, and it is generally agreed that the new building is a significant enhancement to the centre of the College campus. It has retained the name of the original building, Whispering House, and we enjoyed a most successful opening event last November, attended by Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the renowned Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh. Notwithstanding the current health crisis, and its short term impact on College life, we will continue to review the accommodation capacity on the Campus, with two objectives – how best to improve the facilities for the increased number of day students, and how to create additional boarding capacity. It is an ongoing objective to encourage Day students to convert to Boarding as they progress through their College life, and to ensure that we preserve the boarding ethos of the College. The funding for these development plans will continue to be overseen by the Development Board and the Development Office, which are now well established. There is an ongoing schedule of events being planned and we are most appreciative of the support of those parents who continue to sit on the Development Board and give their time to our fund-raising programme. But real progress is only possible if we receive the full support of Old Columbans and the wider College community. On behalf of the Fellows, I want to reach out to all of you to consider how you can help the College to build on its outstanding legacy, and enhance the position of St Columba’s at the centre of the private education sector in Ireland. Old Columbans are an integral and essential part of the College community. With your support I am confident that we can achieve the strategic goals which I have outlined in this report, and fulfil our mission – to ensure that every pupil and member of staff is supported and assisted, to enable them to become the very best that they, individually, can be. In conclusion, I would like to thank everybody who has been so supportive during my time as Chairman. A particular thanks to the Warden, the Bursar and their respective teams of academic and non-academic staff, who have continued to ensure that our excellent academic standards and our strong operational and financial management have been maintained throughout my time as Chairman. My thanks also to the Fellows for their unstinting support, and it is a pleasure for me to introduce Sarah Love (OC) as the new Chair. Sarah Love epitomises that new generation of Old Columbans who are so willing to give their time to the governance of the College. I wish her well. All stakeholders whom I have encountered and with whom I have worked over the last ten years have instilled in me confidence in the future of St Columba’s College. G.R. Caldwell (1960)
FROM THE WARDEN
It is tremendous when a plan comes together, as it has done in the new building that we opened this year in the heart of the College. Old Columbans will remember the Warden’s Garden as a somewhat dead space, but this area has now been regenerated by the building of a substantial social centre. This was done by knocking down the old Whispering House in the yard and building it up again and then by building out into the old garden. In a lovely touch, the old wall of the former garden has been reconstructed stylishly in the centre of the building. Outside there is a new garden, with sitting space for pupils. The result is fabulous. When I first came to the College I asked myself, and others, where the boys and girls were expected to meet and socialise with each other. I was told that they met in the Dining Hall or outside. This seemed inadequate to me, for it is incumbent on a coeducational school to provide spaces for sensible friendships to be cultivated in the College. What we now have is a beautiful 13 building, which has very quickly become the hub of the school. Every day one year group has their lunch in there, which they enjoy, because it feels more like a café, and which also takes the pressure off the Dining Hall. It is permanently open for pupils to meet, but is also a place for staff to meet and to invite guests. It serves as a café for a lot of the time and particularly at those times when it is most needed, such as after games or on Saturday afternoons. It has become the place to hold most of the College’s functions, not to mention the place to watch the Six Nations or the Champions League. As you look out from Whispering House you look up to the Chapel, the Argyle Building, the Big School Room and the Library: so it really does feel like the centre of the College. Unfortunately, other plans that I have had for the development of the College in the next year or two have had to be shelved. The Coronavirus crisis, which has gathered momentum while I was contemplating this article, is an existential threat to all businesses and a private school is no different. We will survive, but not without cutting our cloth appropriately. Headfort, the last remaining traditional prep school in Ireland, has gone under and I suspect that a number of UK private schools will go the same way. Who knows what the economic landscape will look like by the time we go back to school? Numbers have been very good recently and the number of day pupils, in particular, wanting to come to the College has been growing rapidly. Boarding numbers are also solid but less predictable and the prospect of a huge financial strain being put on many of our families may mean a decline in enrolments. It is particularly difficult, at the time of writing, for the current VIth Form, who do not yet even know for sure whether their examinations are going to take place. What is also so sad is that this iconic time of their lives, with prizes and awards and graduation ceremony, along with the summer sun and the long farewells, is being taken from them and it cannot be adequately replayed at a later date. We will celebrate them when we can and as they deserve, but they are ones for whom I feel most disappointed. It is hard right now to finish off with a tone that is too upbeat. Nevertheless it is true to say that we have an outstanding Common Room and an exceptional support staff, ably supported by a board of Fellows with a multitude of skills and a great commitment to the College. We will come through the current difficulties and I am still unfailingly optimistic about the future.
M. Boobbyer
Grace Cup Lunch May 2019
The fourth Grace Cup Lunch was held in the College Dining Hall on Wednesday 15th May 2019. Mr Barnardo’s film of the College in the 1930s was shown, and greatly enjoyed, in the Big Schoolroom. The following attended: John Allison, Charles Appleby, Malcolm Argyle, Patrick Baird, Stephen Barcroft, Michael Baron, Robert Barklie, Denis Beare, Alec Bell, John Bielenberg, Jasper Brett, Geoffrey Brooks, Maurice Brooks, Gavin Caldwell, Alan Campbell, Ian Craigie, David Crawford, Andrew Davidson, Peter Dewdney, Morgan Dockrell, Terence Dormer, John Falkiner, Ninian Falkiner, John Fanagan, Nicholas Fitz-Simon, Guy French, Andrew Furlong, Hugh Gash, Simon Haselden, Christopher Hone, Desmond Irvine, Daniel Kelly, Benjamin Kennedy, Denman Kessler, Terence Johnson, Roy Johnston, Robert MacCarthy, Timothy Macey, John Martin, Richard Martin, John McBratney, Philip Middleton, Desmond Miller, Robert Myerscough, David Neligan, Shaun Nesbitt, Philip Orr, Michael Pettigrew, Ian Roberts, Richard Sherriff, Dudley Smith, Peter Smith, Adrian Somerfield, Antony Tatlow, Brian Thompson, John White, Patrick Wilshere,Trevor Wood. The Warden, Mark Boobbyer, spoke warmly of the College and, raising the Grace Cup, gave the College’s toast ‘Floreat Columba et Floreant Columbanenses’. The Chairman of the Fellows, Gavin Caldwell, spoke about recent developments in the College and plans for the future. This very happy annual event was once again organised by Sonia Young of the College Development Office. 14
OBITUARIES
G.F. Freeman
Geoffrey Freeman was Senior Prefect in St Columba’s in the 1940s. He really loved the College where he enjoyed some of the happiest days of his long life. He spent most of his working life in the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy as a radio and a navigation officer, greatly enjoying travelling the world. After leaving the Royal Navy he returned to Ireland and joined the staff of Bandon Grammar School, Co Cork, where he taught English. Following his retirement he lived in Ballina, Co Mayo, for about ten years. Due to old age and failing health he moved into a nursing home in Enniscrone, Co Sligo at the beginning of 2019. He was admitted to Sligo Hospital in December 2019 and spent his last days in Sligo Hospice. His father was a Dubliner and a Church of Ireland minister. He never married. He is survived by his sister Patricia. Mrs Patricia Jolly
R.H.W. McC. Johnston
Roy Johnston read mathematics and physics at Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 1951 and then working in the École Polytechnique in Paris. He afterwards obtained a PhD in cosmic physics at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies. While a pupil in the College in the war years he was, like some other contemporaries, greatly impressed by the role of the Soviet Union and the Red Army in the defeat of Nazi Germany. This led him into a detailed study of Marxism. In turn, in the later 1950s, he made contacts with IRA ex-internees in order to move the IRA into a distinct left wing direction. While he never abandoned the aim of a united Ireland, his aim was ‘to take the gun out of republican politics’ and to end partition by political means. In 1971, as paramilitary violence in the North rapidly increased, he broke away from republicanism and rejoined the Communist Party. After some years in the 1970s working with the Communist Party, he resigned because of the USSR’s treatment of its dissident writers. Finally, from 1981, he became an important figure in the Green Party in which he remained active and respected until his death. He was interested in the College in a distant sort of way. He attended some of the Society’s parties (perhaps wryly observing the middle classes at play), read The Bulletin and liked the idea that in 1909 the Old Columban Society was set up in the same Trinity College rooms as the Irish Citizen Army. He thought the most useful things the College ever did were to run its own farm and to encourage practical hobbies. N.F.D. Falkiner (1959)
Johanna von der Marwitz
[Adapted from a tribute by Marie von Brauchitsch and Caroline Remmers made at a memorial service in Chapel attended by Old Columbans and by members of staff on November 16th 2019]
There are so many things to say about Johanna. One of them is that she was larger than life and full of energy. Every day she had a new idea. A lot of them were a little crazy and she was unstoppable in pursuing them. Johanna really liked St Columba’s, but also sometimes had trouble accepting that our freedom had lots of boundaries. But within these boundaries she used nearly all the opportunities she had. Right from the beginning she tried to get to know all the different characters around her: she enjoyed being with people and she was always up for a little adventure. She loved doing 15 sports, especially polocrosse. Johanna didn’t really see the point of spending a weekend studying in the Library when she could be outside doing something more exciting. She loved spending all the free time we had outside. She jumped at the opportunity to break the rules of the school a little bit (of course without being caught). This gave her the feeling of freedom she always longed for. Also, she was not afraid of danger, and you could definitely feel that when you played polocrosse against her. Being with Johanna was usually exciting and fun, not only because of her great sense of humour, but because a good day in Johanna’s mind was a day she really used to the full. I think every one of you has your own crazy and joyful memories of special moments with her - having fun at a party, playing polocrosse or another sport, playing some music in the Cadogan or singing in Sine Nomine, playing pranks on each other in Hollypark, going on a pizza-run, spending a nice day in town or just going for a little walk around school and having a really good conversation. Her powerful character inspired us in a lot of ways, particularly by her empathetic side. Johanna was definitely a person who cared about people and noticed quickly when something wasn’t going well. She really understood others’ feelings, troubles and doubts. She was truly sensitive. It was always Johanna who made the very best of things, it was always she who turned the negative to positive and it was always her turning tears into big laughs. Some days she was a little sister for us, on others she was a caring mother. Johanna always looked out for her friends. For many of us it was the first time living away from home and the family, so we were family to each other in school. Johanna always tried to bring everyone together. She helped other people who were more shy to make friends in school. Besides that she was a very enthusiastic matchmaker! Sometimes she would just give you a hug in the right moment. It was impossible to be mad at Johanna for longer than a few seconds, because you always knew she just wanted the best for everybody. Every time we talk to people about our times at St Columba’s, Johanna’s name is mentioned. She is a big part of all the beautiful and all the tough times that come to mind when we think of our time at school. Right now she is watching us with her big Johanna smile: coming together is what she always looked forward to. The more it hurts right now to let her go, the more thankful we are for having had her in our lives and for everything we share with her.
D.N.C. O’Morchoe
David O’Morchoe was elected a Fellow in 1982 and served the College with great distinction until he retired in 2007. In 1988 he was appointed Chairman of the Fellows, an office he held until 1999, when he became Chairman of the newly constituted Board of Management. The seventies and into the eighties had been years of austerity, high inflation and high interest rates in Ireland, making it a very difficult time for private schools. The College under Warden Gibbs did all that was possible to create new facilities, but by the 1990s a great deal needed to be done to bring the College up to modern standards. Under the Chairmanship of David O’Morchoe and the Wardenship of Timothy Macey, opportunities unfolded to improve substantially the facilities of the College: the astroturf hockey pitch and pavilion; the golf course; the new staff houses and sanatorium in the Hurley Field, a new Front Drive and entrance to the College, extended games fields, and above all the new Library, followed by the old gym becoming the art complex and the building of a new Sports Hall. Such is the record, but what of the man who guided these projects to conclusion so successfully and harmoniously? Jonathan Bewley, who succeeded David O’Morchoe as Chairman of the Fellows in 1999, writes of his tact, his diplomacy and diligence. He brought together suggestions and ideas from all members of the Columban community, all requiring the most careful financial planning. In committee work he was always thoroughly prepared. He would listen very quietly and carefully 16 and finally deliver a very clear and precise decision. There was never any drama at his meetings. The College today is a testament to his energy, dedication, loyalty and enthusiasm. Jonathan Bewley continues, “David O’Morchoe was an enormous help to me with advice and with his friendship. I was lucky to inherit the chairmanship of the Fellows when great changes had already been made which provided the platform and energy to further invest in the College’s facilities”. In his reflections Warden Macey writes of “David O’Morchoe’s immense respect and affection for the College. He had an ability to share in and appreciate the enthusiasm of others; one thinks of his unerringly sound sense of judgement and of his openness to new ideas; and how his gentle gravitas, that he wore so lightly, proved invaluable in winning over the doubtful and ultimately in instilling us all with the confidence necessary at that time, while he had the good judgement to define the limits of what was possible. He saw the best in all of us and patiently steered us towards its fulfilment”. Similarly, Warden Haslett remembers David O’Morchoe’s love of the College, his warmth and generosity of character, his rare depth of experience, his smile, support and forbearance: that he was caring and morally grounded. “I feel humbled to have worked alongside him. He was a stalwart of the College and will remain forever in my thoughts as a cherished mentor”. Apart from matters to do with St Columba’s, David O’Morchoe was a person of many other distinctions. He rose to the rank of Major-General in the British Army and at one point commanded the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces. On retiring from the British Army in 1979, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. He was Chief of the O’Morchoe clan and a member of the Standing Council of the Irish Chiefs and Chieftains and was also a member of the Church of Ireland General Synod and an adviser to the overseas development charity, Concern. As President of the Royal British Legion in Ireland, whose work is the welfare of ex-servicemen of the British services, he promoted joint remembrance services with the Irish Defence Forces. He took part in the annual National Day of Commemoration at Kilmainham for all Irish men and women killed in wars. He played a major part in bringing back into public memory the sacrifices of Irish men and women who had served in two world wars and in this way contributed to a new spirit of reconciliation in Ireland. In 2007 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his work with the Royal British Legion. In 2011 he was one of those who hosted Queen Elizabeth on her state visit to Ireland when she visited the National War Memorial at Islandbridge. His funeral in Christ Church, Gorey, was attended by hundreds of mourners among whom were the aides-de-camp of the President, Michael D. Higgins and of the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. The whole Columban community extends their sympathy and gratitude to Margaret his wife, who supported David in everything he did, to his two sons, Dermot and Kevin, and to his daughter, Maureen, who were so dear to him. It was a blessing to have known this man. N.F.D. Falkiner (1959)
Tania Ana Prettejohn
Tania Ana Judd was born in 1959 and grew up in Traverslea House, Glenageary. She was the youngest of seven children. There was always something going on in Traverslea, whether an animated conversation between sisters about the latest art exhibition, political issue or fashion purchase, or coffee and a genteel chat with Tania's impeccably stylish Maltese mother. I first met Tania in the old Hollypark at the beginning of term in September 1975 when she gleefully opened the door to our new dorm at the top of the imposing flight of stone stairs in the Warden’s House that swept from Whitehall to the first floor return. We were both new girls at St 17
Columba's and we quickly became the best of friends. Tania had a wicked sense of fun and an exuberant sense of adventure. During a student holiday at my family's cottage near Westport, Co Mayo, a group of us decided to climb Croagh Patrick. Hearing that the most devout pilgrims would climb the reek barefoot, nothing would satisfy Tania but to take off her boots and make the difficult, rocky ascent without socks and shoes. First aid was provided afterwards in Campbell's pub at the bottom of the mountain. As a student of furniture design at the London College of Furniture in the early 1980s, Tania owned an old Honda 50. Legend has it this bike mysteriously ended up in the Thames and was later replaced by her beloved red Honda CB400. In spite of years of poor health, she was an intrepid traveller. Some of her bolder adventures included a trip to the south of the Atlas Mountains in north Africa in the early 2000s, a solo walking trek along the Silk Road across Uzbekistan, and a visit to Iran in 2017. A talented artist, Tania pursued a career in interior design in London. Initially working for Smallbone of Devises, she later set up her own design company and worked on residential projects in London, Scotland and the USA. She married Philip Prettejohn and they had two sons Jack and Felix. Her younger son Felix recalled his astonished sense of wonder one day at their home in London when, as an eight-year-old boy, he opened the door on to a long corridor at the side of their house to discover that his mother had painted a mural transforming the humdrum passageway into a Mediterranean olive grove lit by a warm southern sun. Everyone who knew Tania will miss her bold humour, her creative energy, her generosity and her daring, sometimes defiant, approach to life. She had an enviable ability to transform the everyday into something artistic, creative and colourful. Even during the last months of her illness, she was impatiently ripping up cashmere sweaters to fashion a cosy bedjacket for the elderly mother of a close friend. Surrounded by family, friends and many of her art works, Tania celebrated her 60th birthday in Chandos House in London last summer. Unfortunately she was too ill to travel to Malta as planned. Nevertheless she continued to speak excitedly about her plans for the next overland bike trip down through France to visit her sister. Tania is survived by her sons Jack and Felix, her ex-husband Philip and her siblings Simone, Nikki and Peter. Alice Luce (1975)
R.H. Simpson
It was with sadness and shock that Robin’s family and his large and wide circle of friends learned in February 2019 of his grave illness which resulted in his death just a few months later on 27th April 2019. Robin entered the College in 1963 following five years at St Stephen’s School, Dundrum. Known as "Reggie", probably due to his patrician bearing, he was popular and very much part of life in the College. He went on to Trinity College Dublin to read business studies and from there to London to Price Waterhouse where he studied and qualified as a chartered accountant. In 1979 he returned to Dublin to start his career as an accountant with Craig Gardner. After some fifteen years or so there, he set up his own firm in Dublin, focusing on insolvencies as well as general taxation. In this he was very successful and astute. Being very much from a business and entrepreneurial background, he assisted in 1989 his brother, David, in the setting up of Blenders. From small beginnings in Newmarket in Dublin’s inner city it became in a short time a large and successful company producing mayonnaises and dressings for the catering industry and moving finally in 2019 to fine new premises in Tallaght, Co Dublin. In 1980 Robin married Margaret Clare (known to all as Garry) Humphries and there followed 18 four sons, James, Harry, Andrew and St. John. Many hospitable and memorable parties were held at their home on Merrion Road. After many years he and Garry parted and in May 2018 he married Nuala with whom he continued his tradition of thoughtful and generous hospitality. He was quietly involved in much charity work becoming a Governor of The Royal Hospital in Donnybrook, where he implemented the policy of acquiring residential units for the Royal Hospital. In early 2018 he was appointed Chairman of the Board. Less well known was his commitment to the South Inner City Community Development Association. Based in the Liberties, its aim is to tackle the many problems facing the community. Very few people knew that, very discretely, he gave private support to some of his friends in time of trouble. He was elected a Fellow of the College in 2000 and during his eleven or so years as a Fellow proved, with his business acumen and accountancy experience, to be helpful, incisive and active. He was encouraging, and generous in the setting up of the Society’s Bursary Fund, which has proven to be a considerable success. He was a long-time member of The Kildare Street and University Club and was also a keen organiser of regular cycling and walking groups in the Dublin mountains, so much so that he was asked to join the Board of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland. His second home was his beloved family property near Roundstone, in Connemara. It was here he was to be found for at least three weeks every summer. He was very much part of the social life in the village and its surrounds. It was fitting that he was buried in the grounds of St.Mary’s Church in Roundstone. It is difficult to accept that we will not again enjoy the company of this generous, thoughtful and wise person. To Nuala, Garry, sons, grandchildren, step-son, his sister, Anne, his brothers John and David, their families and many friends, our heartfelt sympathies. His like does not often come along.
J.N. White (1963) and Mr Barry Smith
C. Vis
Chris Vis’s broad talents in drawing, painting, design, illustration, stagecraft and caricature greatly influenced very many Columbans. Today a remarkable number of his former pupils are distinguished professional artists: Adam Clayton, Claire Carpenter, Justine Carpenter, Jean Dring, Biddy Flinn, Charlie Hackett, Heather Haythornthwaite, John Leslie, Anthony Lyttle, Martin Lyttle, Paki Smith, Clare Biggar. The list goes on. His long-time colleague and friend Peter Watts writes, “He was funny, sweet, encouraging, non- judgemental, thoughtful. Everybody loved him. He was the perfect art master”. He and Chris had many days of fun working together in the old pig and chicken house – the Art Room – a curious setting which did not affect the quality, quantity and potential of the excellent work produced there by the their art pupils. In Charlie Hackett’s words, “The art room was where we were allowed to be ourselves. Chris had some special power of being able to find and extract the creativity within us: he treated us as artists. He has been the biggest influence on my life.” The Warden of the time, Tim Macey, writes, “He had a great sense of humour, much needed when he worked in a decrepit outbuilding and with a limited budget. When he met real talent amongst his pupils, he recognised it and encouraged it enthusiastically. Yet he was also a kind man and when faced by limited talent he could convey criticism so gently that no offence was caused. While he would chuckle at the bizarre formalities of the College, he often spoke with a profound reverence for all in the College that he found best. He was a blessing to us all”. Anthony Lyttle writes, “He saved a lot of talented people who were not necessarily academic by giving them an alternative environment , a creative and safe place in which to experiment and flourish”. He continues, “I am sure that without Chris I would not have chosen to become an artist. He was my inspiration and support all the years I have known him”. 19
Paki Smith recalls the influence Chris had on his growth to becoming an artist, “The essence of Chris’s influence on me was wonder. It was the realising that there were wonderful things, created things, revealing my own wonder in these things, like discovery of the real you that you had no idea really existed. Chris was the vehicle for me in that opening, in that revelation. Like a shaman initiating me into myself”. He also recalls the warmth and happiness of Chris’s home, Washington Lodge; the memories of Chris’s wife, Hudia, and of her hospitality and her meals of Indonesian food. “We had a home in Chris’s house”. There were outings in the old Volvo with Chris and others, such as Hugh Trayer and Jonathan Ryder, to the Featherbed to cut turf, drinking flasks of tea and enjoying Chris’s honey and Hudia’s bread: it was, he remembers, like something out of a Van Morrison song. In the summer there were the expeditions to run children’s art workshops at the Dring home in county Cork, where we as teenagers gained the confidence to be artists. In February 2020 Hudia, Leonard, Vincent and Grainne hosted, at Orlagh House in the Dublin foothills, a large gathering of Chris’s many friends. Together they celebrated Chris’s remarkable life. Julian Girdham spoke of Chris Vis’s achievements. The words of Tim Macey were read by Michael Heaney, the former Chaplain, who also led the prayers, while Anthony Lyttle read the words of Charlie Hackett. In John Leslie’s words, “Walk on, Chris, and I know you will be spreading your magic in some other lucky realm”.
M.W. Walker
Mike Walker was a devoted and beloved husband and father and a much admired and loved brother. Having been born in Guernsey, Mike spent the greater part of his childhood and youth in Dunganstown in Co Wicklow. His father, William, was a well-to-do farmer and businessman. His mother, Rose Mary, was the daughter of Professor Edward Taylor, president of the RCSI and surgeon by appointment to the last Lord Lieutenant of a unitary Ireland. Mike was educated at Aravon School, Bray, where he was a noted sportsman and in his last year became head boy. From Aravon he went to St Columba’s College as a boarder in Grange, where again he was a conscientious student and noted sportsman gaining his colours for rugby, hockey and cricket. Throughout his late teens and adult life he was a keen golfer and an accomplished shot. Having left school he worked for a short time on the family farm and then went on to take a degree in agricultural science at Leeds University, where he met Maurethe Varley whom he married in 1960. On leaving Leeds University he taught at Bandon Grammar School, taking a Higher Diploma in Education at University College Cork. In 1967 he joined Goulding Fertilizers as an agronomist. There he met Spencer Hudson who had taught at St Columba’s in the late 1950s and 1960s. They were jointly awarded the Farmscan award for farm management in 1975. He later worked as an independent agricultural consultant from 1978 to 1981. In the wider world, Mike will undoubtedly be best remembered for his important contribution to Freemasonry in Ireland as its Grand Secretary for just under 25 years. He held this office during a very difficult time in Ireland and particularly so for a largely Protestant organisation with significant membership from Northern Ireland but with its headquarters in Dublin. Mike however, with great diligence, determination and tact guided the Order safely through these difficult times. He was instrumental in, literally, opening the doors of the Order to the population at large through giving press interviews and initiating tours of the Grand Lodge building in Molesworth Street, now one of Dublin’s most visited tourist attractions. On Mike’s retirement in 2005, Lord Northampton, Grand Master of England, spoke of him as 20 the most senior, best known and respected Grand Secretary in the world, an iconic figure in the world of Freemasonry. He was invested as Honorary Past Grand Master in 2017, an unprecedented honour, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Freemasonry. Mike is survived by his widow, Maurethe, his children Sally and Andrew, and his brothers Patrick, Neil and Colin. N.A. Walker (1953)
ENGAGEMENTS
C.E. Byrne (1992) to Miss Marie Hynes. Sophie Haslett (2001) to Mr Duncan Burns. Poppy Kirwan Browne (2007) to Mr H.D.N. Bridge. J.D.T. Moore (2000) to Miss Stella Stewart. Tara Myerscough (2000) to Mr Martin Buick. Justine O’Mahony (2002) to Mr Paul O’Brien.
MARRIAGES
R. Beresford (2001) to Miss Susannah Hall on July 6th 2019. Alisa Bowen (2004) to Mr Thor Karstadt on August 10th 2019. Sarah Davis-Goff (1995) to Mr David Rudden on August 3rd 2019. Hélène Elston (former Secretary to the Warden) to Mr John Blackwell on December 18th 2018. C. J.P. Fahey (1992) to Miss Gina Gilligan on October 26th 2019.. T.H.C. Johnson (1952) to Mrs Diana Connolly on October 5th 2019. Poppy Law (2003) to Mr Barnaby Hunter on July 7th 2018 Vanessa Macey (1999) to Mr Lucas Maximo Marques Vigharinho on August 1st 2019. Millie Mantle (2003) to Mr Thomas Jack Matthews on June 1st 2019. S.C. McMullen (1983) to Miss Aoife Smith on December 4th 2019. Lydia Moore (1998) to Mr William Lishman on June 22nd 2019. A. von Rhade (2004) to Miss Madeleine Barmer on June 22nd 2019. Ulrike Riemenschneider (1993) to Mr Matthew E. Donohue on August 24th 2018. Emma Smithwick (1993) to Mr Dominic Collingwood on May 26th 2018. E. Teggin (2007) to Miss Christina Ulrich on June 29th 2019.
BIRTHS
R. Cope (1997). A daughter (Flora Frances) on May 31st 2019. B. Deacon (1993). A son (Joseph Henry) on August 24th 2019. A.T. Jackson (1989). A daughter (Róisín) on December 29th 2019 [a granddaughter of T.M.R. Jackson (1959)]. F.C. Hanika (1996). A son (Charles Maximilian) on February 4th 2019. Sarah Lawn (2000). A son (Rian John Whelan) on April 3rd 2019. Melissa Pounder (née Pendergrass, 1998). A daughter (Olivia Nicole) on February 6th 2020. Jane Reynolds (née Thompson, 1991). A daughter (Erica Jane) on March 11th 2018 [a granddaughter of H.D. Thompson (1954)]. Jessica Savage (née Bowen, 1998). A daughter (Emily Rose) on October 22nd 2019. Lisa Sayago (née Macey, 1994). A son (Daniel Simon) on May 28th 2019. [A grandson of T. E. Macey (1959)]. A.P.C. Willis (1993). A son (Alec) on December 31st 2019. M.D.C. Willis (1995). A daughter (Rose) on November 5th 2019. 21
DEATHS
R.G.M. Cosgrave (1945) on February 14th 2020. N.P. Cummins (1939) on August 20th 2019. T.M. Dinsmore (1952) on March 9th 2018. G.J. Freeman (1944) on November 15th 2019. J.R.W. Jackson (1966) on February 19th 2020. R.H.W. McC. Johnston (1942) on December 13th 2019. A.H. King (1944) on March 3rd 2019. J.C.G. Lamb (1949) on April 22nd 2019. J.B. Lawson (1947) on July 13th 2019. Johanna von der Marwitz (2011) on September 29th 2019. D.N.C. O’Morchoe (1941) on November 22nd 2019. Tania Prettejohn (née Judd , 1975) on August 16th 2019. M.J.H. Robinson (1961) on January 21st 2020. R.H. Simpson (1963) on April 27th 2019. P.F. Ticher (1940) on January 30th 2020. C. Vis (former member of staff) on December 19th 2019. M.W. Walker (1949) on May 28th 2019. J.P.M. Wardell (1940) in April 2019. W.G. Wheeler (1945) on July 9th 2019.
Warden Blackburn
On the evening of November 17th 2019 a special service was held in Chapel. One hundred years previously the Reverend William Blackburn, Warden, died suddenly during the night, aged 41. His funeral service was held in the Chapel, conducted by the Reverend Robin Gwynn, and then his coffin was wheeled down to Whitechurch by the College Prefects, accompanied by the whole school community. During 2019 I became aware that the grave was in poor condition, and the lettering on the headstone was severely eroded, to the extent that it was illegible. So the College undertook to restore it. However, only families can give permission for such work, and so a search started for the descendants of Warden Blackburn. The most promising angle was that one of his daughters, Barbara, had become famous in later life under her married name, Woodhouse, as the celebrity BBC dog trainer (she was 9 when her father died). The breakthrough was made by an Old Columban, Andrew Hewat, whose internet search skills found her daughter, Judith Walpole. Judith gave her permission for the restoration, which was done by Damien Roe, stonemason, and now the inscription is beautifully clear. Just before the anniversary a small ceremony was held at the graveside conducted by the Rector of Whitechurch, Canon Horace McKinley, with the College Chaplain the Reverend Daniel Owen, the Warden, the Sub-Warden, a former College Chaplain the Reverend Michael Heaney, and two College Prefects, Shannon Dent and Sam Lawrence. On Sunday 17th November the Sub-Warden gave a talk in Chapel about Warden Blackburn. The family was represented by a grandson, Oliver Chapple. J.M. Girdham (1974)
[An article, together with photographs, can be seen here: https://www.stcolumbas.ie/2019/11/13/warden-blackburn/ ] 22
The Barnardo Films
In the 2019 edition of The Bulletin I wrote about the discovery of extraordinary films of College life made in the 1930s by Mr Barnardo, the father of a pupil Harry Barnardo (1934-41). These films had been in the attic of the Barnardo family home, undiscovered for decades. I arranged for a professional editing of these films, and you can see the finished 23-minute version, with captions and music, in the media section of the College website, or directly here: https://vimeo.com/335172109
The College during the Second World War
By A.E. Somerfield
When I arrived in the College in 1941 the War was two years old. Many boys had parents, relatives or friends in the Allied armed services. Every evening Warden Sowby allowed us to listen to news of the war on the BBC in the Drawing Room. There was also a short daily Intercession Service in Chapel at 1pm for those who wanted to attend. The main effect of the war was a shortage of everything. Petrol was rationed, so motoring practically ceased and buses were infrequent. About the only fuel was turf, which was stacked along the Yard or in sheds, but the College had laid in some coal so that there was hot water for showers most nights, but no central heating, so we were usually cold. Turf tends to ignite, and we had two small fires which the College fire brigade put out; being far from town, our brigade was important, and we had frequent practices to keep us on our toes. One of the masters, Brian Boydell, built a producer-gas unit on his car. He was to be seen arriving in College with smoke and flames shooting out everywhere. He also built one for Warden Sowby. Ireland had an extensive railway network, but except for trains to Belfast, they had to cope with turf too. Pupils from the country often had very prolonged journeys at the start and end of term. It could take a whole day to get to Cork from Dublin. More locally, we cycled, though spares and tyres were hard to get. There was no question of hiring a coach to get to away rugby or other matches; we either went by bike or bus. Boys who lived nearby were encouraged to take boys who lived far away to their homes on Exeat Sundays. Food was rationed. We had to hand in our ration books to Mrs Ross, the housekeeper. We each got a small numbered butter dish and a cupful of sugar weekly in our tin in the Dining Hall. Clothes were also rationed, so the clothes list was much shortened. The Farm, under Mr Patterson, did a lot to feed us, and the College rented or bought a great deal of land to its west. This also gave us new playing fields (much later named “The Sowby Fields”). This enabled the College to grow oats and barley and potatoes, and to keep pigs and cattle and sheep. Much of the garden area in the College was used for growing vegetables, so we were pretty well fed. We were expected to help on the Farm, scutching gorse and picking potatoes. Motive power on the farm for ploughing or uprooting spuds was provided by horses rather than by a tractor. Electricity was also rationed, and the timetable was adjusted to make best use of daylight. As an organ student I was allowed about one hour of practice per week. As stage electrician, I had to be careful to use as little electricity as possible. Since the College was remote, we had to be fairly self-contained, so we were encouraged to have hobbies, especially for Saturday night “Activities” There were clubs for printing, photography, gramophone, philately and so on. These clubs came and went with the enthusiasm of members; mine was radio. Radio sets were simpler then, and we used to get old sets or parts from parents or friends. Materials were also hard to get for carpentry or photography, and even paper was scarce, both for classwork and hobbies. Nevertheless, there was great enjoyment to be 23 had from “making do” and improvisation. Did I enjoy my days at St Columba’s? I never thought about it much, but in retrospect I think I did.
NEWS OF OLD COLUMBANS
C.F. Angus (1978), now a qualified geography teacher, he has since July 2019 been teaching in a Catholic secondary school in Coventry in England. The school is very diverse in its population as was St Columba’s in his time “with its rare and highly valued cosmopolitan mix. We were so privileged in more ways than we could recognise”. Emily Archer (1999) continues to work in Dublin as an artist, facilitator and environmental activist, based in her studio at 73, Francis St., Dublin. She runs an online shop ‘Native Circles Art’ and a small creative agency for environmental education called ‘Cre8 Sustainability’. She and her partner Sam Bishop are looking for a smallholding in Co Wicklow for their next project centred on community, art and ecology. B.J.G. Armstrong (2002) is working as a primary school teacher in London. He keeps in touch with his Old Columban contemporaries and is keen on travel, while also attending a variety of sports events. J.E.E. Armstrong (2005) works as a building surveyor for Knight Frank LLP in London, dealing primarily with the company’s commercial assets. He plays hockey for Spencer Hockey Club in south London and has a keen interest in classic cars. F. Babajide (2017) is attending Coventry University where he is studying for a degree in aviation management with pilot studies. He is also receiving instruction at a local flying school. E.G. Barrow (1964) is a consultant in community conservation and governance, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He has written Our Future in Nature: Trees, Spirituality and Ecology , a book about the importance of woodlands, of sacred trees and of groves in our stress-filled and increasingly urban world. Kate Bewley (2012) is in her second year of a three-year degree course in adult nursing at Oxford Brookes University. She has been based on the stroke and cardiothoracic ward in the John Radcliffe Hospital, which is associated with Oxford Brookes University. J-P.B. Birke (2005). After working for three years in China where he was in charge of a production plant for high performance polymers, he returned to Germany in late 2019. He is now working in marketing in Dusseldorf for Evonik, a speciality chemicals company. Anna Bofferding (2015) is training as a paramedic and has been doing a two-month internship in a hospital in Munich, before applying for medical school. Alisa Bowen (2004) who married Thor Karstadt in Kenya in August 2019, had many of her Old Columban friends at the wedding celebrations: Richie van Aardt, Monique Baronet, Barney Barrow, Lorian Campbell Clause, Ben Cork, Adam Deloire, Karen Fraser, Sean Fraser, Christopher Lilly, Jason Horsey, Lindsay Kennaway, Jordan Kerrigan, Kristian Larsen, Cordelia Mulholland, David Nolan, Arthur Preston, Rosanna Reade, Tarka Russell, Louisa Scott, Melanie Sheil, Ashley Sherwood, Rosy Temple, Sarah Warren, Edward Wilson, as well as, of course, her sister Jessica Bowen and brother Adam Bowen. A.L. Bowen (2000) flies humanitarian aid and workers for organisations such as the Red Cross, the United Nations and Médecins sans Frontières into war-torn countries across Africa such as Somalia, Southern Sudan, the Congo and Mali. He is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Recently he took delivery of a small aircraft for his own use which he will have for travelling within Kenya and going on safari. He plans in July 2020 to take part in the Mongol Rally, starting in London and travelling 10,000 miles through 20 counties to reach Ulan Ude in eastern Russia. M.C. Boydell (1959). In September 2019 he showed with others a selection of his work since 1962 (when still a pupil in the College being taught by Oisín Kelly) at an exhibition “Pioneer Irish 24
Ceramic Artists”, held in Cashel, Co Tipperary. In December 2019 he displayed pieces of his work at the Pre-Christmas Allihies Studio Exhibition in West Cork. Siobhán Brady (2008) is at present on the events team of Trinity Development & Alumni, the fundraising and alumni department of Trinity College Dublin. She organises events for graduates and supporters of Trinity College internationally and at home, ranging from reunions to high-level bespoke events for benefactors. She is a member of New Dublin Voices, one of Ireland’s premier chamber choirs, competing regularly in international competitions and festivals, performing in Ireland and abroad. A. Brennan (2013) is studying home economics at University College Cork. A.A.J. Brooke (2003), a graduate in 2015 in Arabic from Manchester University, is at present working for a master’s degree in Arabic and Middle Eastern studies at Queen’s University Belfast. H.A.O. Brooke (2006) is a captain in the Irish Guards serving with the British Army in Iraq. He is half way through a mission teaching and mentoring Iraqi soldiers and is scheduled to return to London in June 2020. M.V.F. Brooke (2008) graduated from Manchester University with a second class, first division, honours degree in ancient history. He spends the summers working in the Mediterranean as a professional yacht skipper in charge of flotillas of ten or so other yachts. E.A. Brooks (1971), the recently elected Treasurer of the Society, is chairman of Irish Seed Savers in County Clare, a body which promotes heritage vegetable seeds. In this role he met last year his Old Columban contemporary Madeleine McKeever who is involved in the same sort of work with her company Brown Envelope Seeds. Antonia Bullrich (2017) is studying film, television and digital production at Royal Holloway University, London. P.R.F. Bury (1954). Robin Bury spent ten years researching the lives, attitudes and treatment of Protestants in the 26-county area of Ireland from 1911 to present times. For this research, carried out at Trinity College Dublin, he was awarded an MPhil. In 2017 his findings were published in Buried Lives: The Protestants of Southern Ireland. He wishes to attempt a follow-up book of interviews with former pupils, young and old, of St Columba’s who have lived in Ireland, both north and south. He wishes to look at their experiences and attitudes and the impact on their families of living in an independent Ireland. Interviews will be subject to scrutiny by those interviewed before publication and may be anonymous. He may be contacted at [email protected] . C.E. Byrne (1992) enjoys his work as a barrister practising on the eastern and Dublin circuits. His practice is general, but is mainly made up of employment law and personal injury law. He is in regular contact with Kristian Douglas and Johnny Moore, also practising barristers. At his marriage to Marie Hynes in May, Colin Peirce will be the best man and Charles Langley will be a groomsman. He is godfather to the children of two Old Columban contemporaries. J.H.F. Campbell (1949). After graduating from Trinity College Dublin, and then Yale University, he worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs until his retirement in 2001. He served as Ambassador of Ireland to China, Germany, the European Union, France, the United Nations and finally Portugal. In retirement he has continued to travel widely and also to enjoy writing: he has had three novels published privately in the United States, ‘not bestsellers, but fun to write’. He lives in Vermont, USA, for six months of the year, some four months in France, and the balance in Ireland. G.T.T. Campbell (1969), who lives in Ballsbridge, County Dublin, runs an online holiday home letting business https://uniqueirishhomes.ie/ . M.L.F. Campbell (1980) completed a PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Pennsylvania and then switched to psychiatry. He and his wife now live in New York, where he practises as a psychiatrist at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. J.N.H. Campbell (1983) read law at the London School of Economics before a spell at Goldman 25
Sachs, followed by a few years in Croatia in real estate mainly. He has spent the last nine years or so in Vietnam. He and his wife Samantha, also a lawyer, have three children. Hollie Canning (2010). In 2018 she spent a very happy and successful three months in Zambia at the South Luangwa National Park. She enjoyed greatly living in the bush, getting to know Zambian people well, and going on walking safaris to watch closely the lives of all sorts of animals. She found South Luangwa ‘a place of calm and peace’. She is now in her final year reading biomedical and life sciences at University College Dublin. L.J. Canning (former Housemaster of Stackallan, 1977) was elected to the Committee of the Society at the Annual General Meeting in October 2019. R. Canning (2006), a trainee solicitor with Dillon Eustace, Dublin, hopes before long to qualify. He was selected for the first Irish men’s indoor hockey team since the 1980s (coincidentally his father Liam Canning in the 1980s played on the same team). He scored the concluding goal against Wales to secure a bronze medal for Ireland in their first European international in 33 years. N.G. Cardew (1962) has lived in Uppsala, Sweden, since 1975. He worked mainly in social welfare until his retirement a few years ago. Sadly, his wife Brigitta died five years ago. A serious accident when skating has ended his skiing and skating, but he greatly enjoys outings to various islands with his children and grandchildren, who live nearby. Belinda Carpenter (née Bielenberg, 1992) lives with her husband Lorcan and three children at Munny House, her childhood home, on the border of Wicklow-Carlow. In February 2020 they were featured on the popular RTÉ programme The Great House Revival which described the restoring and conversion of their three farmyard barns into their new home. A.C. Chisholm (2008) is working in London in the behaviour change team of Sustrans, the United-Kingdom-based sustainable and healthy travel charity. K. Cho (2013) is attending the National College of Art and Design Dublin where he is studying product design. Caoimhe Cleary (2017) is studying creative writing at University College Dublin. H.M.T Cobbe (1956). Together with M.S.M. Hannon (1956), D.J. Ledbetter (1957) and B.M. Gordon (1956), he greatly enjoyed ‘Trial by Jury’ and ‘HMS Pinafore’ among other productions at the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Harrogate in July 2019. A. Cole (2007). On leaving St Columba’s he studied architectural history at Trinity College Dublin graduating with a master’s degree in 2015. At the same time he worked a full programme at Broughgammon Farm in Co Antrim. He is now managing the 35-acre Airfield Estate in Dundrum, Co Dublin, a charity which enables people to make better food choices. He is applying for a master’s course in business administration to enhance his knowledge of business matters and with the aim of helping to develop the international reach of Irish agri-food enterprises. Rebecca Collis (née Hickey , 2000) is a critically acclaimed London West-End stage and screen actress and award-winning screenwriter. On leaving the College she trained in London at both ArtsEd and RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), obtaining an honours BA in musical theatre and screen. She lived and worked in London for eleven years but now spends most of her time back in Dublin with her husband. She travels abroad for filming when necessary. In early 2020 she will be filming as part of a principal cast for a feature film. As a writer, her award-winning short film screenplay “112” will be filmed, with a later festival run scheduled. P. Conroy (2008). After leaving the College in 2014, he attended Manchester University where he studied real estate and planning. He graduated with a master’s degree and is now working for CBRE in Dublin. After spending some time in property valuations he is now in the area of investor leasing. Susannah Cooke (2005). In the summer of 2019 she spent two months in County Galway researching conservation practices and social connections to the bogs. One of the areas she researched was the Roundstone Bog: there she obtained introductions by Teddy Sherwood 26
(former head of geography in the College), who lives nearby, to local turf cutters. Her research was for part of her master’s degree in anthropology, environment and development which she is working on at University College London. In London she works for a sustainability and responsible business consultancy. Siobhan Cooper (1996). In November and December 2019, an exhibition of her figure drawings, titled ‘Bold and Bare’, was held in The House of Bystander Gallery in Manchester. Orla Conlon Batey (2017) is studying business and social studies at Trinity College Dublin. Sybil Cope (2001) has finished her work in Ireland as a culture and heritage consultant. She has moved to New Zealand for two years where her husband Jeremy is working with the IPCC, a UN body assessing climate change. R.H.B. de Courcy-Wheeler (1973) is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry. He is the grandson of Captain Harry de Courcy-Wheeler, who took the 1916 Rising surrender photograph. In 2016 he and a fellow obstetrician were responsible for bringing together descendants of all those at the surrender in 1916. They co-authored an article entitled “For the sake of the babies we are delivering today, please find a Brexit compromise”, which was published in The Irish Independent in October 2019. In the article they presented the case for compromise on a future border and how that might be achieved. They also argued for caution and understanding in the matter of any referendum on reunification. Helen Crampton (2013) is reading history at Manchester University. Sarah Davis-Goff (1995). The publishing house Tramp Press, of which she is co-owner, in 2019 published the novel The Red Word by Sarah Henstra; a memoir and essays Minor Monuments by Ian Maleney; and reissued the novel Dark Enchantment by Dorothy Macardle (under Tramp Press’s Recovered Voices programme). In 2020 Tramp Press will publish a book of essays, Handiwork , by Sarah Baume; A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa, again a memoir and essays; and an as yet untitled collection of classic Irish fantasy fiction edited by Jack Fennell (also under Tramp Press’s Recovered Voices programme). Emily Devereux (2016) is reading biology, biomedical and biomolecular science at University College Dublin. J.R.W. Dick (a former Fellow of the College, 1954). During controversy over fishing rights around Rockall in June 2019, an adventure back in 1975 came back to mind in which he and John White (a former Fellow of the College,1963) were part of a crew of four on the 1963 Tyrrell-built 39ft yawl, Verve, the others being the skipper, Paul Campbell, and the navigator Michael d’Alton. In July 1975 they sailed, using just a sextant and a watch, from North West Donegal, about 260 miles/418km to Rockall, a rock about 57ft high. Although it was relatively calm when they arrived, there was a considerable swell. So it was with difficulty Michael d’Alton was able to land William Dick on the rock from the inflatable dinghy. He was able to grab a skirt of seaweed, and employing his considerable rock-climbing skills, climbed to the top of the rock where he left an inscription on a plaque and hoisted the Irish Cruising Club flag. When he got back on the yacht, he was covered in guano and had to be sluiced down! After this the very small Hasselwood rock appeared and not to be out-done Michael d’Alton, having been rowed across by William Dick, managed to briefly sit astride it covered by swell. When the adventurers were back on Verve, a Royal Navy helicopter from HMS Tiger came up over the horizon and photographed them. An adventure indeed. Pamela Dix (1973), who lives in Woking with her husband John, conducts training courses for the ‘blue light’ services, that is the police, fire and ambulance services. She gives presentations on the human aspects of disaster planning. Ulrike Donohue (née Riemenschneider , 1993), who taught in the College from 2007 to 2009, embarked on a new career path in the summer of 2018 when she became a real estate agent for a franchise office of the German company Engel & Volkers in Vermont, USA. She is greatly enjoying the new challenges the appointment brings. 27
Molly Dunne (2007). In January 2020 she graduated, with distinction and commendation for studentship, from Kingston University London with a master’s degree in sustainable design. She has now taken up a marketing and events role with a barristers’ chambers at 4 New Square, London. Johanna Elverfeldt (2017) has taken a gap year during which she has spent three months studying Spanish in Salamanca and has also been working as a ski instructor. At present she is doing an internship in a law firm with the intention of going on to study law. N.F.D. Falkiner (1959) has been touched to receive a number of emails thanking him for work done over the years on The Bulletin . He looks forward to continue gathering up items of news for the new Editor, Alice Luce, and remaining in touch with Old Columbans (something he greatly enjoys). He will have greater time putting together a family history: he is fortunate to have a good deal of material to work with. J.M. Fanagan (a former Senior Master) chaired the Society’s Social Events sub-committee from 2014 to 2019. He brought great energy, enthusiasm and hard work to organising, and attending, many successful and happy Old Columban events. Rebecca Feeney-Barry (2006), who is living in San Francisco, is on the point of starting a new job in Maymo, Google’s self-driving car project. She spent the last three years at a self-driving truck startup called Starsky Robotics. She and her husband are expecting their first baby in April 2020. C.D. Fettes (a former Housemaster of Tibradden). An article in The Irish Times Weekend Magazine in June 2019 described his central role in the establishing of the Green Party in Ireland. The Party, at first called the Ecology Party, was founded in 1981.There were 72 people present at the Party’s first Convention held at a former reformatory in the Dublin Mountains. Two Old Columbans, Ruarc Gahan and Patrick Gray, contributed significantly and the then Warden David Gibbs attended. Two other members of the College’s staff also made special contributions. Chris Vis designed the Party’s first emblem and Bert Walsh helped translate the name of the Party into Irish, Comhaontas Glas, which is still the form used. There have been many Conventions since 1981 and always there have been Old Columbans and Columban parents present at them. R. FitzGerald Barron (2009) is at present living in Brighton, England. He has completed the bachelor degree in law at Sussex University and is now studying for a master’s degree in information technology and intellectual property, also at Sussex University. Esther Gerrard (1990) and E.M.P. Coveney (1990). With their twin boys Rex and Axel they have moved to a new home in Cloyne in East Cork where they continue to run their collaborative practice, Elements of Action ( www.elementsofaction.net ), who design and hand-make bespoke high-end furniture. Recent accolades include the 2019 RDS Craft Award and the 2018 Future Makers emerging craft practitioner. Their biggest recent project was designing and building the Maggies Centre project in Swansea. Esther is co-founder of a creative collective called GreenEdge (having previously worked as the curator of the community festival ‘Bloomfringe’). GreenEdge specialises in greening projects and placemaking, with the focus on ‘Tactical Urbanism’, that is, small interventions, which cause large ripples. Clients include Dublin County Council and the 1916 Commemorative Play Garden project. T.W.S. Gibbs (2006). After leaving St Columba’s in 2012 he obtained a degree in engineering from Trinity College Dublin and in 2017 was awarded a master’s degree. While at the university he was captain of the hockey club. In September 2019 he gained a cadetship to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Mary Gillier (née Cosby , 1989) lives in Fontainbleau near Paris with her family and is running two holiday homes while studying online for a master’s degree in equine science with the University of Edinburgh. She welcomes very much visits from Old Columbans and is always happy to show them around the Fontainebleau area. 28
B. Gleeson (2013) is studying accountancy and finance at Oxford Brookes University. D.G.P. Gleeson (1985) was elected to the Committee of the Society at the Annual General Meeting in October 2019. Grace Goulding (2013) is reading commerce at the National University of Ireland Galway. J.T. Green (1983) at the Magee 1866 fashion show in the College in the autumn of 2019 to support the College’s Development Plan, he provided refreshments, his famous gin ‘Bertha’s Revenge’. T. Green (2013) is studying business administration at Bath University, Somerset. Hanna Guelich (2016) is studying for a degree in international business. Rhea Halford (1995) is in her fourth year training to be a psychotherapist at the Tavistock Insitute in London. After graduating she plans to set up in private practice. She and her husband are kept busy with their four-year old son and also with completing a house renovation. Last summer she had a very happy meeting in Paris with Michelle Stockwell and Lisa Jane Graffard (née Moeran) – they had been unable to be at the twenty-year reunion. R.M.A. Hall (1968) retired from RTE Sports, where he fronted the station’s racing coverage, after a broadcasting career of 37 years. One trainer’s tribute read, “Robert has a fantastic knowledge of racing and breeding. He’s straight up and calls it like he sees it”. Eva Hamilton (1982), founder of Key4Life, was the main speaker at ‘The College Dinner’ in London in October 2019. This very successful event was organised by the College and was attended by many Old Columbans, by parents and by friends of the College. She has since visited the College with colleagues to set up a connection with Key4Life. Eliza Hancock (2010). In September 2019 she was awarded a master’s degree from Oxford University. Her thesis focused on gender and the female body in post-colonial India. She is now working in Manchester for a marketing agency called Havas, specialising in the marketing of pharmaceutical products and healthcare campaigns. In 2021 she plans to go abroad, starting with a ski season in Whistler in British Columbia and after that travelling to as yet unspecified destinations. M.S.M. Hannon (1956) and H.M.T. Cobbe (1956), both of whom attended the College from 1956 to 1961, much enjoyed hosting, together with their wives, a lunch for Norman Lush (a former Sub-Warden) and his wife Joyce near their home, just a month before Norman’s 98th birthday in August 2019. They were both in excellent form, happily reminiscing about College days. Michael Hannon always remembers Norman Lush’s wise counsel as his Housemaster in Stackallan. Hugh Cobbe particularly values Joyce Lush having introduced him when a pupil at the College to Brahms’ music. Kate Haslett (2003), who lives in East Grinstead in West Sussex, is in her third year of teaching history at GCSE and at Advanced Level at The Oxted School in Surrey. She leads a whole- school team with responsibility for looking after the pastoral welfare and academic progress of those pupils considered disadvantaged. L.J. Haslett (former Warden) and his wife Marie, who taught history and the history of art in the College, continue to enjoy good health, travel, choral singing, gardening and much else. They greatly enjoyed the London Old Columban party last October and also meeting up with parties of Columbans in London who are there on cultural trips. They have also enjoyed very much welcoming old friends to their home in Gloucestershire. Sophie Haslett (2001), a graduate of Bristol University, is based in Sydney, Australia, where she is assistant editor of Mail Online. In July 2020 she will be married in her parents’ local parish church in Chedworth, Gloucester. M.R.H. Heaney (former Chaplain and Guidance Counsellor). For 24 years he and his wife Rhodanne have run summer chaplaincies in Brittany, and elsewhere, under the auspices of ‘Diocese in Europe’. In July 2019 they ran their final chaplaincy at Névez in southern Brittany. The chaplaincies involved the holding of Sunday services, shared meals and pastoral occasions. They are very grateful to the many people from different countries who came year after year to assist them with the chaplaincies. 29
R. Hollis (2005), who works in London in investment with JP Morgan, has set up a fishing club, The City Flickers, with two other Old Columbans, Dalton Tice and Lucy Mantle. The club will help to introduce the art of fly-fishing to city-based people. J. Holstein (2016) is doing an apprenticeship with the estate agents Engel & Voekers. C.P.G. Hone (1962) for a number of years has acted as a judge at the Royal Dublin Society Primary Science Fare, now renamed Science Blast. The range of projects and the imagination and ingenuity of the participating primary schools continue to fascinate him. T.P.R. Hone (2006) continues his research for his PhD at Trinity College Dublin. In December 2019 he gave a presentation in Hawaii at an international conference about the mechanics of biomaterials. Following an internal competition, he was selected to represent Trinity College at the all-island Sir Bernard Crossland Symposium. The Symposium is funded by a bequest from Sir Bernard and administered by Engineers Ireland. Prizes are awarded for the best presentations by PhD students. He attributes his successes in his work to the thorough grounding in mathematics and in physics he received from Mary Singleton and from Daron Higgins when he was a pupil in the College. P.N.W. Jackson (1973) is Head of the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin. Last year his books Introducing Palaeontology: a guide to Ancient life (2nd edition, Dunedin Academic Press, Edinburgh) and The Museum Building Trinity College Dublin: a model of Victorian Craftsmanship (which he co-edited with Christine Casey, Four Courts Press, Dublin) were published. The latter also contains chapters by Peter Wyse Jackson (1968) and by Leila Budd (1995). Lucinda Jacob (née Wilson , 1974). Her book Hopscotch in the Sky , a book of poetry for children (published by Little Island/Poetry Ireland) has recently been chosen by ReadDL as Donegal’s ‘One Book One Community’ and by the UK EmpathyLab for its ‘Read For Empathy Collection 2020’. Her poem The Dream of the Plastic Bag has been set to music for soprano and alto choirs (the sheet music is published by Hal Leonard). She also continues to work part-time in the Dublin City University Cregan Library. E. Johnson (2015) is studying information technology at the Technical University of Dublin. H. Johnson (2008). After leaving the College in 2014, he undertook at Trinity College Dublin a five-year integrated bachelor's and master's degree in engineering with management. He was involved with Trinity's hockey and snow sports’ clubs as well as the student-managed fund. Since graduating in 2019 he has moved to San Francisco where he is working at an aviation finance firm called BBAM. S. Jones (2013) is studying engineering at University College Dublin. H. Karlsson-Smythe (1982) continues to own and operate Gálanta Foods & Beverages, a rebrand of Le Gourmet Wholefoods. In 2019 he qualified as a grief recovery specialist with a view to helping others deal with tragedy and loss. Most recently he has been a volunteer at the Solas Project Dublin, a charity that works towards breaking down the socio-economic and educational imbalances which often prevent young people from achieving their full potential. He continues to enjoy all things outdoor and regularly pursues his hobbies of skiing, flying and sailing. Louvisa Karlsson-Smythe (2013). After leaving the College she travelled to the United States where she completed a paramedic/EMT qualification and then gained work experience with Professor Anthony Charles (1987) in both the University of North Carolina and also in his surgical program in Malawi. She went on to complete an 18-month gap year travelling in Russia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Iceland. She also participated in the 2018 Fastnet Race. In January 2018 she began reading medicine at Uppsala University, Sweden, and is now in her third year of study. In 2019 she bought a yacht as a summer live-aboard, based in Saltsjö Stockholm, where she works at Skotahem teaching sailing to people with disabilities. 30
H. Kelly (2015) is reading Middle Eastern Jewish and Islamic Civilization at Trinity College Dublin. J.P. Keogh (1989) lives in Glenageary, Co Dublin with his wife and daughter, Neeltje. He meets up with Old Columban contemporaries such as Charles Foster and Jessica Kavanagh. He returned to Dublin in late 2014 following several years living in London and in Devon. He continues to commute weekly between Dublin and the United Kingdom working as a project manager for John Sisk & Son in the civil engineering business unit, which at present is leading the M6 Junction 10 improvement scheme R. Koirala (1982) lives in Kathmandu, Nepal, with his family and runs his own water-bottling business as well as doing some real estate work. He writes, “Life has been generally good mainly thanks to the earlier good guidance I got from my teachers.” Last year he attended the London Old Columban party and found it great seeing so many old friends after such a long time. He remains in touch with Jonathan Hoblyn, David Jolliffe, Tim Johnston and Ryan Ponnudurai among others. K.W. Kingston (1983) is the operations manager with the Mellon Educate charity whose work mainly takes place in the South African townships. Mellon Educate builds or extends non-fee paying schools; this done, a full-time education team, for the following three to five years, works with the teachers, developing skills, coaching and mentoring. At present 34 schools and over 51,000 pupils are benefitting. As the charity’s operations manager, he works closely with the South African government to expand the charity’s work into more schools greatly in need of assistance. In particular he is project manager in the building of schools: every November about 300 volunteers from overseas undertake the building. If any Old Columban is interested in volunteering, details are to be found on www.melloneducate.com . Josephine Krieger (2016) has been doing a three-month hospital internship in preparation for applying to medical school in Germany. Anna Laurenceau (2016) has taken a gap year learning Spanish in Seville. This year she plans to undertake study in Holland. Sarah Lawn (2000, a member of the Committee) has returned to the employment team of Arthur Cox, Solicitors, Dublin, following her maternity leave. She is looking forward to discovering the playgrounds of Ireland this summer with her baby son Rían and her husband Tadgh. G.A. McL. Lee (1966) is the gamekeeper on the Belmont Demesne (adjoining the Kilruddery Estate), Co Wicklow. Maia von Lekow (1999) and her husband, Christopher King, have been exploring the oral history of people in coastal Kenya. Based on this research, they have co-produced and co-directed a documentary ‘The Letter’, the story of a young man who travels to his grandmother’s rural home where he learns she has been accused of witchcraft. From there unfolds a story of family rivalries, ambition and land hunger. F.E.A. Lesi (1976) is at present consultant paediatric neurologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and professor of paediatrics at the College of Medicine, also of Lagos University. He has administrative and leadership responsibilities as the Provost of the College of Medicine where he lectures. He wife Olufunmilayo is a consultant gastroenterologist at the same hospital. They have three daughters. Jeanne Levesque (2014) is pursuing a one-year course in art at the Atelier de Sevre Paris. L. Lopez (2016) is studying veterinary medicine at the University of Budapest. Alice Luce (1975, a member of the Committee) has been appointed to the College’s Development Board where she acts as the liaison between the Society’s Bursary Fund sub-committee and the College. In recent years she, in all sorts of weather and at various College events, sold Bursary Fund Christmas cards, each year raising at least €1,000 for the Fund. N.H. Lush (a former Sub-Warden and Housemaster of Stackallan). In July 2019 he and his wife Joyce, their son Colin and daughter Tessa attended at Lord’s the first day of the Ireland-England 31
test match. Peter Edmondson and also Michael Beamish, who had flown in from Sri Lanka, were at the match to meet them. S.P.H. Lynch (1966). After leaving the College he studied architecture in London, returning to Ireland in 1978, where he worked in furniture design and manufacture. Subsequently he founded in 1993 his own company ‘’The Sofa Factory’’. He lives in Greystones, Co Wicklow, and is now a web designer under the style of abigcanvas.com . He has three children and six grandchildren. G.A.L. MacGowan (1971) left the College in 1980 to pursue his medical career at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and subsequently in the United States at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, and at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, before being appointed consultant cardiologist, with a special interest in heart failure, at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in England. He co-leads one of the United Kingdom’s services for advanced heart failure and ventricular assist devices. He works with G.J. Meachery (1985) on the hospital’s heart and lung team. R.B. MacCarthy (1952), former Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, in summer 2019 conducted the service of annual commemoration of Elizabeth Bowen in Farahy church, Co Cork. T.H. Macdougald (1975), who lives with his wife Emer and three adult children in Clontarf, Co Dublin, qualified as an accountant in 1988. Since then he has held numerous positions in professional practice and industry in Ireland and in the United Kingdom. For the past two years he has been chief executive officer of the aviation company MAAS, whose headquarters are in Dublin. He was chief financial officer of the company for the previous eight years. His work with MAAS Aviation has given him the opportunity to engage in his lifelong passion for aviation. The company has grown greatly in recent years and is now among the leading companies of its sort in the world with plants in Dublin, Maastricht, Hamburg and Alabama. T.E. Macey (1959). A former Warden of the College, who retired in 2001, escapes the worst of the winter weather in Ireland by living with his wife Laurence in the mountains of Malaga. Otherwise they live on the Mizen Peninsula in West Cork where he grows vegetables, keeps hens and enjoys fly-fishing. Two other Old Columbans in the locality are Dermot O’Brien (1954), who sails and is involved with the local Church of Ireland, and Brian Studdert (1948), who is a lay reader and organist in the Kilmoe Union. A.S.C. Magan (1966) is at present travelling on a motor bicycle through South America. He follows a multi-year pattern of three months at a time. This year he is in Peru. E.J.L. Maher (2009) is working in KPMG in Dublin, training to be a chartered accountant. He enjoys both the work and the social aspect of it. In 2019 he graduated from the Dublin Institute of Technology (now the Technical University of Dublin) with first class honours in economics and finance. He continues to play rugby with the Old Wesley RFC and has recently taken up touch rugby, a game he enjoys greatly. Lucy Maher (2013) is doing an internship with the BBDO advertising agency in Dublin and will then volunteer to teach in Thailand. Kate Maylor (2017) is studying for a degree in physical education with qualified teacher status at Brighton University. She is doing voluntary work teaching children to swim, as well as doing a lifesaving course and playing for the University’s 1st basketball team. In December 2020 she will be going to Gambia with the University’s Football 4 Peace project to teach children there the value of sports and planned games. Adaeze Mbanefo (2016). In the 2019 edition of The Bulletin her first name was spelt incorrectly; also she is reading neuroscience, and not biology. We apologise for these errors. S. McAteer (2005) graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2015 with a degree in history and political science. After a short stint with Amnesty International, he worked as a campaign manager for a candidate successfully elected to Seanad Eireann, the upper house of the Irish parliament. Since then he has worked as a parliamentary assistant in Leinster House. He started studying for a postgraduate qualification in legislative drafting at the King’s Inns in the autumn of 2019. 32
P.T. McCollum (1965) has fully retired from medical practice, but is still doing some teaching and examining in the United Kingdom and overseas. Hockey still features prominently in his life and keeps him fit. Tara McCormick (2008), a graduate in classical studies from Newcastle University, and at present working for a human relations consultancy firm, has deferred her training to be a primary school teacher to this summer. She will start working in a primary school in London in September 2020, something she greatly looks forward to. S.H. McElligott (1982) has been appointed managing director of Lynskey Engineering Ltd. The company is involved in a number of commercial office developments in Dublin as well as data centre construction and other projects on mainland Europe. He remains in touch with Old Columban contemporaries such as John Barcroft, Philip Bewley and Justin Green (whose son Jamie is a pupil in the College). He is a member of the Willow Wheelers cycling club and with his son, Ben, goes out on 50km cycles on Sundays. Madeleine McKeever (1973) and C.J. Cairns (1973). In the 2020 general election their daughter Holly Cairns, a county councillor, stood successfully as a Social Democrat candidate for the West Cork constituency. I. McKinley (2002) was interviewed in late February by Ryan Tubridy on RTE Radio 1 and by Ivan Yates (1973) on Virgin Media about living in northern Italy under the lockdown to combat the Covid19 virus; also, in March, he was featured in The Irish Independent. His wife Cordelia (2006, née Mulholland ) has been writing a diary about the lockdown for The Belfast Telegraph. P.R.G. McKinley (1993) has been selected for ordination in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute and at Trinity College Dublin where he is completing the first year of study for a master’s degree in theology. R.M. McMullen (former Sub-Warden and Housemaster of Glen). Ulrike Riemenschneider writes, “My daughter Ciara, who is eight years old, recently discovered my biology notebooks from St Columba’s days. She copies the beautiful drawings and notes into her own notebook. She has worked her way through the structure of the ear . . . her teacher allows her to bring my notebooks to school ... This amazes me. Bud’s notes are timeless”. G.J. Meachery (1985) left the College in 1987 to study medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is now a lung transplant physician and the medical lead for the national lung transplant service in Newcastle, England, where he works with Guy MacGowan (1971). They have adjoining offices and together do ward rounds and patient care on a daily basis for heart and lung transplant recipients. They often share stories and news about the College. He was recently at Twickenham with his old friend John Leslie (1980), where, with their wives, they saw Ireland go under, though enjoying a wonderful time together. Valeria McQuillen (2016) is reading psychology at the University of Zurich. A.Meijer (2013) is studying business and management at Oxford Brookes University. Roísín Mills (1983, a member of the Committee), has been working with Ireland’s Health Services Executive (HSE) for the last three years on the country’s largest ever IT transformation project. During Covid19 she has been deployed to manage the dashboard for the Covid19 centres being set up all over Ireland for testing and isolation. Outside work, she has three guide units with 71 girl guides ranging from seven to 17 years of age. Having been three years a district commissioner for Lucan, Co Dublin, she next hopes to become an area or regional commissioner. She has been chair of the Society’s Events Sub-Committee for the last twelve months and is loving every minute of it. J.D.de C.E. Minchin (1960) has been appointed professor of marine sciences at the Marine Research Institute in Klaipeda in Lithuania. In 2019 he was kept somewhat desk-bound owing to two knee replacement operations. However this year he will be leading an expedition to the Shetlands: the northward expansion of marine species seems to be taking place more rapidly than expected. He plans to get back to the Arctic in 2022 where he previously did research work 33
with the late Rick Boelens. He adds that sadly his work with a major marine body in the United Kingdom has come to an end owing to its withdrawal from the European Union. N.P.E. Mooney (1977). He and his son played some beautiful pieces at the funeral of John Wyse Jackson at Christ Church Gorey in February 2020. There was a strong Old Columban contingent in the packed church. B. Morabito (2017) has been doing an apprenticeship with the plant engineering company KWS Einbeck in Lower Saxony, Germany. This year he plans to study engineering at degree level. R.E.R. Morphew (1982) has recently completed three and a half years in Kuwait advising the Kuwait National Guard on security, strategy and policy matters. He has been fortunate to keep in touch with his contemporaries Alex Bayly, Edward Simpson, Maurice Cox and Peter Stewart- Maunder, who have kept him aware of developments in Ireland and in the United Kingdom. He will be moving with his family from Kuwait to Dubai, where for the next three years he will lead a policy team analysing Arabian Gulf defence and security situations. He hopes to catch up with Rory Gilbert who lives in Dubai. F. Morris (2010). He is in his final year of business and sports’ management at the University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam. He spent from September to February in Hong Kong as part of his internship, which was a memorable experience at a time of widespread civil unrest. He worked in the development office of the Hong Kong Rugby Club and played hockey for HKRC, playing regularly for their first team. He met up with Henri Münchow (2016) and Douglas Boyd Crotty (2011), who were both working and studying there. H. Morris (2008). Having completed his master’s degree in international business at the Dublin Institute of Technology (now the Technical University of Dublin), he took up a position in Hays recruitment agency in August 2019. Prior to this he travelled along the west coast of America on a journey that started in San Francisco and finished in San Diego. He is currently captain of Three Rock Rovers first team and gained his first international caps for Ireland’s indoor hockey team at a European tournament in Santander in February 2020. Kitty Morris (2012) is in the second year of studying retail services and management at the Technical University of Dublin and is very much enjoying her course. She played hockey in the varsities competition both this year and last year and regularly plays for the Three Rock Rovers First XI. Karin Morrow (née Maharry , 1972). On leaving St Columba’s she worked for some years until the mid-1990s as a cabin crew with Aer Lingus. Since then she has worked freelance doing flowers for weddings. Her first love is drama: she has won several National Awards, playing many roles such as Sive, Pegeen Mike and Blanche Du Bois. She is married to Mervyn Morrow (1972) and now that both of them have retired they run an Airbnb which they much enjoy: people arrive as strangers and leave as friends. M.T. Morrow (1972). After leaving St Columba’s he trained as an apprentice with JJ. Fitzgibbon and afterwards ran a successful sport wholesaling business with his brother Adrian Morrow (1966). Later he joined Sun Life of Canada as an assurance agent, where he was very successful and went on to become an independent financial adviser. His great interest has always been cricket which he played with a local club in the 1980s. A long-time member of the Culwick Choral Society, he sang the ‘Messiah’ every Christmas in St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin. Nowadays he and his wife Karin enjoy travel, their garden and the company of their granddaughter Matilda. G. Müller-Methling (2017). From September to December 2019, he did an internship in marketing and sales with Eintracht Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany. This year he is applying to study at Sciences Po, the University of Reims. H. Münchow (2016) is studying a course in applied business at the German Swiss International School in Hong Kong and at the same time getting work experience with a local Swiss company. Alexandra Murray-Donaldson (2014) is studying for a joint honours arts degree at Trinity College 34
Dublin. E.D. Nicholson (1974) has since the mid-1980s run the Mardyke complex in Cork. The complex is an entertainment business which offers a mix of leisure activities, bars and dining. It appeals strongly to the corporate sector as well as to the ordinary citizen. In 2005 he brought a party of six to the Antarctica, among them two other Old Columbans, Stephen Marquart (1970) and Patrick Stronach (1974). They sailed to the Antarctica and experienced five weeks on the Antarctic Peninsula doing a mixture of whale-watching, camping, sailing and climbing previously unclimbed peaks. In 2008 he began a 15,000 mile circumnavigation of the Atlantic, which over a number of years was completed in 2014. The circumnavigation brought him from Ireland to the Canaries, across to the Caribbean, up to the United States and to Newfoundland, from there to Greenland and back across the Atlantic to Cork. Many friends were involved as crew, some of them Old Columbans, Dermot O’Morchoe (1969), Kevin O’Morchoe (1971), Nick Matson (1970) and Guy Scott (1972). Ella Noeldeke (2016). In October 2019 she started studying for a degree in medicine at the Medical University of Breslau (in Lower Silesia, Poland). S.H.P. O’Curry (1980) is the director of The Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) which is a network of 104 organisations that are committed to combating racism in Ireland and Europe. INAR pledges to fight all forms of racism by providing analysis and tools to empower those who experience racism to take action. Through its iReport.ie online racist incident reporting system, it enables people with direct experiences of racism and discrimination to use those experiences to advocate for positive change. In December 2019, he supported delegations of Travellers, Roma, Muslims, people of African descent and others, to present their findings to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). At the hearings, he was proud that INAR members’ findings and words were used by the CERD committee in its cross-examination of the Irish Minister for Equality, senior members of the Gardaí, Justice and other Departments. On the flight home, bleary-eyed members of the State delegation cursed the INAR delegates good-naturedly for making them work so hard with their tough questions. www.inar.ie www.iReport.ie. Justine O’Mahony (2002). In 2019 she spent many months travelling alone in Australia, New Zealand and Asia (in Hong Kong she became engaged to Mr Paul O’Brien). She returned to Ireland in September 2019 where she joined the LRC Group specialising in real estate investment as head of portfolio management S.I. O’Rourke (1984) lives with his wife Shannon and his daughter Zora, aged nine, in San Francisco overlooking, from some angles, the Golden Gate Bridge. He ran Setanta North America and Australia for 14 years and now runs his companies Premium Sports Inc USA and Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc Canada. The companies sell many major sporting events to bars and hotels throughout the United States and Canada. H. Oke-Osanyintolu (2014) is reading psychology at Trinity College Dublin. Tiffany Orogun (2015) is reading biomedical engineering at Aston University, Birmingham. Alexandra Owens (2007) worked for six months in 2019 as an intern for Theo+George, a small specialist Dublin-based fashion company. She obtained in February this year a professional diploma in digital marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute. She started in the same month working as an events executive for the Alumni and Development Office in Trinity College Dublin. She is working alongside Siobhan Brady (2008) whom she knew well when they were both in St Columba’s. Anna Park (2016) is studying for an arts degree at the National University of Ireland Galway. JiWoo Park (2013) is reading biological sciences at Imperial College London. C.B. Peirce (1992) continues to work as a general and colorectal surgeon in the University of Limerick Hospitals Group, where he is lead surgeon for robotic and colorectal surgery. In 2019 he travelled with Nick Wheeler and Nick Fryday to the Rugby World Cup in Japan, where they met up with Alan Thomas, Crispin Maenpaa and John Warren. He remains a 35
Munster and an Ireland supporter, attending matches with Conor Byrne, Charlie Langley and John Warren. When time permits he plays golf and also hopes to compete in July in another Etape de Tour in France, where amateurs may do a mountain stage in the days before the Tour de France itself. N.P. Perry (1970) retired in 2018 after 37 years in the civil service in London and in Belfast, including lengthy stints in the Ministry of Defence, the Northern Ireland Office and the devolved Department of Justice in Stormont. He has now begun working for a PhD in history at the University of Kent, the thesis being the Irish landed class and the British Army, a piece of self-indulgence he blames on Ninian Falkiner who gave him his love of history. With two grown-up children now working in London, he and his wife Wendy live in County Down, on the shores of Strangford Lough. Melissa Pounder (née Pendergrass , 1998) continues to work as a gynaecologic surgeon in Oregon, USA. She and her husband Grayson had their third daughter, Olivia, in June of last year. G.R. Power (1985). After ten years living and working in Australia, he and his wife and two sons returned to Ireland in 2019 and are now living in Blackrock, Co Dublin. He continues to work in marketing. Recently he created and managed a business event called Nextipedia featuring the renowned physicist Brian Cox. He is back in touch with his Old Coumban contemporaries Emmet Daly, Patrick Passmore, Mervyn Ellis, John Ellis, Andrew Hewat, Shane O’Rourke, Tim Griffiths and Gus Nichols. N.W.N. Price (1966) retired from running his restaurant business in 2013, and has since been appointed Deputy Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast. He now occupies his time taking part in a male voice choir, being a cruising sailor and travelling in the winter-time. He is married with two sons and six grandchildren. He is always pleased to hear from his Old Columban contemporaries. Jane Reynolds (née Thompson , 1991) continues to work on the wellbeing team at St John University in York. She has an interesting role supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students A. von Rhade (2004) has since February 2019 been managing director of Nordsaat, a middle-sized plant-breeding company for cereals in Saxony-Anhalt in central-east Germany. The company breeds new varieties of wheat, barley, rye, and oats for farmers throughout Europe. He lives in Braunschweig with his wife Madeleine (who is doing her residency as a paediatrician). At their wedding last year there were many Old Columban friends: Eliza Preston, Ollie Harrison, Nikolaus von Luckner, Alexander Schultheis, Louisa Lenthe, Benedetta von Luckner, and Isabelle von der Decken. J. Riemenschneider (1998) is watching his four children growing up rapidly, leaving kindergarten and entering school. He continues to work in the town of Gadesbusch (which is quite close to Hamburg), teaching biology and chemistry in the High School. In the coming year he is looking forward to teaching astronomy also. He is leading the group which is organising the Twenty Year reunion to be held in Dublin in October 2020. T. Rolfs (1980) lives in Oregon, USA, with his wife Kim and two children, Holly aged 18, and Emma, aged 16. He runs his own company which provides software specialising in artificial intelligence used in the automated videoing of sports events. The system then allows people to watch the games being played via the internet. He plans to make a visit to Ireland in the not too distant future. Like many others, he has very fond memories of Chris Vis and the Art Room. A. Russell (2015) is studying professional musicianship at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute London. B. Russell (2001). In September 2019 he was awarded the Richard Tauber Prize for best interpretation of Schubert Lieder at the 2019 Wigmore Hall/Independent Opera International Song Competition in London. 36
A.F. Sadek (1971) retired in June 2019 after completing 42 years working as a chartered accountant, 38 of those years being spent in the Arabian Gulf states, most recently in Oman. He has relocated with his wife Movana to Richmond-upon-Thames in the United Kingdom. He is at present involved in board and committee work with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and with a UK-registered charity that supports Palestinian musicians. He also expects to become involved in non-executive corporate work. P.A. Sadek (1999) continues work with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi, where he has been for the last five years. He is now leading the transformation portfolio to turn around the national airline as part of their five-year plan. During his time off he uses most of his staff travel entitlements to visit new places, most recently Norway where he met up with his contemporary Ross Cork, who is based there. He regularly gets back to Ireland to see family and friends. M. Sanderson (2003). After leaving the College, he read neuroscience at Edinburgh University and then attended Imperial College London where he was awarded a master’s degree in science media production. He went on to do work with a science content for BBC Radio 4, the BBC World Service, the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel. Then he worked for Radio Wolfgang, where he created, developed and produced their science-based podcast. He is now in London with the Guardian newspaper as their lead producer in audio output, overseeing their complete portfolio of audio output, as well as producing original content. He regularly speaks at and chairs live events about science, podcasting and intellectual culture. C. Schulenberg (2016) is working with the Order of Malta in the Lebanon doing voluntary work to improve living standards for disabled people. W.J.R.M. Scott (1973) continues to live near Chicago on the Wisconsin border where he concentrates on the expanding of his company Culture Czars. He consults, runs workshops and speaks globally on the subject of corporate culture, “one where people care, are cared for, and are engaged with meaningful purpose to their work”. His book The Culture Fix came out in 2019 and has been a great success. He has a podcast under the name of Culture Czars and is also an implementer of The Entrepreneurial Operating System. He has a son, Sam, and a daughter, Chloe, both now in their twenties. E.A.W.O. Semple (1999) continues to travel extensively for business for his company SET Advisory to such destinations as New York, Washington, Paris and Johannesburg. He also spent a month on holiday in Japan in 2019, including several days in the historic town of Arima Onsen. Sadhbh Sheeran (2008), who left St Columba’s in 2014, is studying for a master’s degree in ecological economics at the University of Edinburgh. She also works for The C Collective, a sustainability consultancy. She continues to be a director on the board of Amnesty Ireland. A. Sigurvinsson (2016) is studying business and social studies at Trinity College Dublin E.M.D. Simpson (1981). Over the last couple of years he has brought to the market his company Funsoms, of which he is founder and managing partner. The company, which is based in Dublin, sets up the story to enable funds and projects gain interest from the investor community and then project manages this interest into a commitment. He continues to play league hockey for the Three Rock Rovers club in Rathfarnham. He is captain and mangaer of Ireland Masters 50s (a team aged in their fifties). Hugh Harvey-Kelly (1980) is the team coach. The team competes at the Home Nations Cup competition in Edinburgh in May and also the World Cup competition in Cape Town in September 2020. The Masters50s organisers are always on the lookout for any Old Columban who would be interested to play hockey at this level and who is in the 50 to 54 age group. W.H.P. Simpson (1977) lives in London and continues to work in private banking. He has close contact with his brothers Edward and Marcus, and his sister Caroline and makes regular visits to Ireland, most recently for the wedding of one of his Beresford cousins. He greatly enjoyed the 175th SCC Celebrations at the College. He often meets up with Old 37
Columban contemporaries such as Robert O’Neill, Charles Hudson, Rob Johnson, Michael Wood, Liam Canning, Richard Moeran, Sharon Kilroy and John Sheils. He was the organiser of the London Party for a good few seasons (now held at the Royal Thames Yacht Club and organised by Sinead Clarkin). When not working and travelling he spends weekends in a Suffolk cottage with his wife Jane (author of Pelvic Floor Bible published by Penguin). Their son Charles is at present working at the Cabinet Office in London. K. Smith (1983). In September 2019 he celebrated his 50th birthday in Castello di Roncarde near Venice with several friends, among them Keith Barry, John Bielenski, Róisín Mills and Thomas Heidenfeld. There were wine-tasting trips and visits to Venice and Padua. Earlier in the summer he and Thomas Heidenfeld attended a memorable performance of Die Meistersinger von Nurenberg at the Bayreuth Festival . A.E. Somerfield (a former member of staff, 1941). On Trinity Monday 2019 he was one of only four surviving Foundation Scholars who, in 1949 won “Schol”, and so attended the decadal Scholars Dinner in Trinity College Dublin. R.J. Spiller (1996), a major in the British Army, has completed his time in command of A squadron of the Household Cavalry Regiment and is now serving as military assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Strategy and Operations, based in the Ministry of Defence in London. He is married to Kathrina Kotineva who is a violinist. Emma Smithwick (1993). Having worked for the BBC for six years as a producer and then a commissioner, in 2019 she set up her own television production company. The company is called Rockfleet Productions and is based in Soho, London. The company, named after Granuaile’s castle in Co Mayo, concentrates on producing scripted programming in drama and in comedy as well as developing programmes for the major broadcasters in the United Kingdom. www.rockfleetproductions.com . C.R. Smyth (1980). In 2014 he retired, after 30 years’ service, from the British Army. He has since been fortunate enough to combine military reserve work with enjoying childcare responsibility for his daughter, now aged six. He has completed a master’s degree in management and leadership and has gained chartered management recognition. In 2019 he started working for Amazon as a learning manager within the company’s United Kingdom fulfilment centres. As an active Army Reservist, promoted in 2020 to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he holds a command and staff role in a specialist hospital support regiment. Quite recently he did some training at the Curragh, Co Kildare, alongside members of the Irish Defence Forces. H.A.F. Stacpoole (1982) is based in Battersea, London, where he is programme manager covering much of the United Kingdom, finding solutions for the movement of passengers travelling by rail at times of major engineering works. He is the United Kingdom agent for the Connemara Railway project ( www.connemararailway.ie ), which aims to restore a short section of the old Galway-Clifden line, closed in 1935. Michelle Stockwell (1996). In February 2020 in Los Angeles she was a member of the host committee for the first screening of “Voices of Parkland”, a documentary dealing with the impact of gun violence. A.A.L. Stokes (2013) is studying for a degree in music performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (under Professor Michael D’Arcy). He is a member of the Irish Youth Choir and leader of the Dublin Youth Orchestra. In February 2020 he performed as a soloist with the orchestra in Saint-Saens’s Havanaise at their performances at St Anthony’s Church, Bruxelles, and at the Irish College, Leuven. G.J.R.M. Symes (1959), Honorary Secretary of the Society from 2014 to 2016, was an active member of the Committee for a good few years. In March 2019 he and his wife Adrienne hosted at their home Clonageera House in Durrow, Co Laois, a major event in support of Plan International Ireland, a global organisation to end injustice against children and to secure equality for girls. On the National Day of Commemoration in July 2019 he laid a wreath on 38
behalf of the Old Columban Society at the Irish National War Memorial, Islandbridge, Dublin. J. Taylor (2014) is studying business and social studies at Trinity College Dublin. E.O. Teggin (2007). After leaving St Columba’s, he read history at Trinity College Dublin. In December 2019 his PhD thesis was accepted; his conferment will be in June 2020. After nearly ten years studying in Trinity, he is moving back to his home in Longstock, Hampshire, from where he will continue his research studies at Southampton, Edinburgh and Queen’s Belfast Universities. J. Tabita (1992) continues to work for the Publicis Group in London, heading up the international energy and commodities team. He and his wife Jenni have two sons, Marco, aged eleven, and Oliver, aged eight. M.W. Taylor (1966) worked as a geologist for many years and is now a part-time farmer in Doneraile in north County Cork. He has recently been holidaying in Cape Town, South Africa. R.L. Temple (1967) and Rosy Temple (2003, a Fellow of the College) of Magee 1866 in May 2019 presented a fashion show in the College in support of the College’s Development Fund. B.P. Thompson (1970). He and his wife Amarilis, at present working in Mexico, continue their mission work of training people how to tell accurate and engaging Bible stories and to lead discussion about the stories. Eleven countries have invited them to come and invest on a long- term basis in this endeavour of raising up local residents as trainers. They have three daughters now all in their twenties. T.E.C. Tottenham (2010), who lives in Dublin, obtained a degree, first class honours, in manufacturing and design engineering from the Dublin Institute of Technology (now the Technical University of Dublin). He was recently promoted to production engineer in Siemens Healthcare in Swords, Co Dublin, which manufactures immunoassay analysers. Isabelle Townshend (2014) is reading biological and biomedical sciences at Trinity College Dublin. Sophie Wainwright (2017) is studying for a degree in human health and disease at Trinity College Dublin. G.B. Wallace (deceased, 1934). An exhibition of his work Reflections on Life will be held in the National Gallery of Ireland in the summer of 2020. After he graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in philosophy, he obtained a diploma in fine art and afterwards taught, first in Radley College, Oxford, and then in an art college. He later emigrated with his family to Canada where he became professor of fine art at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, a post he filled with great distinction until 1985 (when he moved to British Columbia). His work in a wide variety of media, especially sculpture and graphics, has been widely collected and has been represented in the National Gallery of Canada and in many other Canadian galleries. He was a member of the Royal Canada Academy of Arts. A.G. White (1996) is at present working as an airline engagement manager for Dublin Airport. He mainly works in attracting new airlines to operate out of Dublin Airport in order to expand the aviation network out of Ireland. He is also involved with managing the relationships of home- based, established airlines in the airport. T.R. White (1987), who is the director of the Little Museum of Dublin, wrote in The Sunday Independent of October 13th 2019 an affectionate and sympathetic appreciation of the writer Ulick O’Connor. In The Irish Times Magazine of February 15th 2020, he wrote about The Diceman, a famous Grafton Street character who ‘turned the street into a stage for his imagination’. Christopher Daybell (1955), the street poet, was mentioned in the article. A.P.C. Willis (1993) runs his own business, Carrow Coffee Roasters ( www.carrow.ie ), in County Sligo. It sources raw coffee from a number of different countries which is then roasted and supplied to cafes and other outlets. A. I. Yates (1973), who was elected in 1981 to Dail Eireann at the age of 21, and later was a Minister of Agriculture, has successfully retained the ownership of his family farm at Blackstoops in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. This August he will retire as a broadcaster with Newstalk’s drivetime programme, The Hard Shoulder . 39
THE COLLEGE NEWSLETTER
Many members of the Society have signed up for the regular College email newsletters, which include some Old Columban news. Signing can be done quickly (and without charge) at www.stcolumbas.ie/news/ .
NEWS OF THE COLLEGE
Michaelmas Term 2018 to Trinity Term 2019
Two new Fellows were elected, both Old Columbans: Ms Rosy Temple and Mr Raoul Empey. At the start of the year the teaching staff was joined by Ms Julie Harkin (Mathematics and Applied Mathematics), Mr Conor Horgan (Art and SPHE), Ms Jean Morley (English), Ms Patrizia Pirrone (French), Ms Lisa Carey (Economics and Business Studies) and Mr Patrick Tice (OC) (Biblical Studies and English). During the year Ms Kate Smith (English) and Mr Tristan Clarke were on leave of absence, and at the end of the year Ms Smith decided not to return, being replaced permanently by Ms Morley. Mr Liam Canning retired as Housemaster of Stackallan (to be replaced by Mr Michael O’Shaughnessy from September 2019), and Mr Peter McCarthy retired as Transition Year co- ordinator (to be replaced by Ms Ann Kilfeather). Mr Richard Brett retired as a full-time teacher, though he continues to teach Latin on a part-time basis in 2019-20. Ms Lorraine Harrahill (Science) moved to Belvedere College. Mr Conor Horgan (Art) also left. Ms Anne Nolan retired from the catering service after 21 years, and Ms June O’Halloran after 18 years. In December Mr Michael Carroll, long-time driver for the College, retired. The College Prefects during the year were Harry Oke-Osanyintolu (Senior Prefect), Helen Crampton (Second Prefect), Catherine Butt, Benjamin Gleeson, Grace Goulding (Chapel Prefect), Toby Green (Chapel Prefect), Hanna Gülich, Anna Laurenceau, Kate Maylor, Alex Meijer, Alexandra Murray-Donaldson, JiWoo Park, Caspar Schulenburg, Isabelle Townshend and David White.
Academic News
In 2019 the College’s Leaving Certificate candidates achieved an average of 474 points out of 625, second only to 2018. Sixty-one candidates sat the examinations, taking a total of 453 papers, 85% of which were taken at Higher Level. 18% of all results were at H1 level. A Pennefather Scholarship was awarded to Tom Casey, and an Exhibition to Marcus O’Connor, both in Third Form. The Old Columban Scholarship was awarded to Beatrice Somerville. In October 2018 the College was selected as the venue for the prestigious first-ever researchED event in Ireland, an educational conference on Saturday 5th October 2019. researchED is an international movement concentrating on ‘working out what works’ in teaching and learning, and has had events so far in the UK as well as the USA, Australia, Sweden, South Africa, Dubai and the Netherlands. Staff teacher-training at the start of the year was given by Tom Sherrington, one of the UK’s top educational consultants, and author of The Learning Rainforest: great teaching in real classrooms. The College features in his book The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook . The College gained a PDST(Professional Development Service for Teachers) WellRead Award for 2019-20: this national initiative demonstrates how much we take old-fashioned reading seriously. 40
St Columba’s Day Celebrations
The Chairman of the Fellows, Gavin Caldwell (OC) in his last address before stepping down, welcomed Raoul Empey (OC) and Rosy Temple (OC) as new Fellows of the College. He said that in future the Chairman would also be Chair of the Board of Management. He re-emphasised that it was the firm belief of the Fellows that the College must maintain its boarding ethos, and expressed his pleasure at the College being completely full. The Warden paid tribute to the many pupils who had achieved great things during the year. He commented on the mental health challenges pupils face in the social media age, and looked forward to the building of the new multi-purpose social centre Whispering House, to open in September 2019. He wished the best to Mr Richard Brett (retiring from a full-time role) as well as two staff leavers, Ms Kate Smith and Ms Lorraine Harrahill. Finally, the Senior Prefect, Harry Oke-Osanyintolu, thanked his teachers and peers for their support over his years in the College: “In our uniqueness, we are joined by a sense of unity in diversity: it is in our differences that we discover we are the same.”
Chapel
Dr. Nicholas Olsberg visited the Chapel in April; he is the author of the forthcoming first full biography of the acclaimed architect, William Butterfield (to be published in December 2020); the next issue of The Bulletin will cover his visit, and his book. As well as the Warden and the Chaplain, there were a number of visiting preachers through the year, including Canon Horace McKinley, Rector of Whitechurch (for the 42nd year in a row); Rev. Vanessa Wyse Jackson, Methodist minister and a former member of staff; Rev. Ruth Noble who preached at the Harvest Thanksgiving; Dr. Gillian Wylie from Christian Aid; Mrs. Susie Keegan of the Diocesan Youth Council; the former College Chaplain, and now Dean of Kilmore, the Very Rev. Nigel Crossey; Rev. Nigel Pierpoint; Mr. Greg Fromholz, Diocesan Director of Young Adults ‘ Ministry; Rev. Steve Bunn, Chaplain at Trinity College Dublin; Rev. Adrian Dorrian, who represented CMS Ireland; and the Very Rev. Chris Peters, Dean of Ross. Collections this year were received for the Emergency Fund, Aware Ireland, the Sunshine Children’s Home, the Diocesan refugee housing appeal, the Crumlin Children’s Hospital Cystic Fibrosis unit, both the Team Hope Shoebox and the Team Hope School Bag appeal, Barnardo’s, S.O.S.A.D., Habitat for Humanity, the Thirst Project, the RNLI, the Irish Cancer Society and the Bishops’ Appeal. The College marked the centenary of the end of the First World War in a variety of ways over the Armistice weekend. On Saturday November 10th, there was a special service in Chapel, which included choral performances, and the calling out of the names of those Columbans who died in the War, with their portraits held up by pupils. That afternoon, the Warden, Mr Redmond and two German College prefects, Hanna Gülich and Caspar Schulenburg, went to the German cemetery in Glencree to lay a wreath. On Sunday November 11th, the laying of a wreath at the 1921 War Memorial cross was performed by the Senior and Second Prefects and by the Old Columban Society President, Dr Ian Fraser. The Last Post and Reveille were played on the trumpet by Konstantin Kuehne, either side of the two-minute silence. The two Carol Services took place as usual in December. On Thursday May 30th 12 candidates were presented for confirmation to the Most Reverend Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin (and also Fellow of the College). 41
Drama
The First Form play was a version of The Tell-Tale Heart adapted from the Edgar Allan Poe short story and directed by Mr. Peter McCarthy. For the Second Form play there were two offerings. The first was in the popular werewolf genre. It was followed by a two-hander written by Harold Pinter with Nicolai Foster and Emily McCarthy skilfully taking on this bonus offering. Both were directed by Mr O’Shaughnessy with assistance from Ms Harrahill. The Senior Play was Gogol’s The Nose by Tom Swift. Gogol’s uniquely surreal vision from more than two centuries ago is fresh and arresting and, in this adaptation, fun as well. Mr Swift directed. Mr Jones and Mr Girdham assisted with sound design and operation. The congested nature of the busy calendar meant a post-Christmas production timeline of about three weeks for the Junior Play. Thornton Wilder’s The Happy Journey was chosen. The small cast, led ably by Emily McCarthy playing the mother, achieved a touching and ultimately plaintive piece. Mr. Swift and Mr. Jameson directed.
Transition Year
This was Mr McCarthy’s last year as co-ordinator (he is replaced by Ms Kilfeather in 2019-20). In his words, ‘’It is very gratifying to see young people taking advantage of the opportunities they are given. It is also very gratifying when a parent contacts me to say ‘Thank you for organising a terrific Transition Year programme and for giving my child opportunities to do things’, because none of these things can really happen without the huge commitment and generosity of the TY team. Their attitude to the year is the perfect example to our pupils. As well as looking after the pupils and teaching full timetables, the team also have families, friends, responsibilities, interests and a real life outside of school. But as well as their energy, they give that most precious resource, which is of course, their time – and they give it so generously. I am genuinely proud of my colleagues and I know that as TY co-ordinator I have been envied by so many co-ordinators in other schools because of my wonderful colleagues."
Sport
Old Columban Alex Panayotou, extreme distance runner, spoke at the annual Sports’ Dinner, and presented awards, including to the sports’ persons of the year, Helen Crampton and Tobias Voelsgen. Athletics: Avouka Assebian won gold in the Senior Triple Jump at the Leinster championships, and finished 8th in the All-Ireland event. Tobias Voelsgen and Shannon Dent won the mountain races. Basketball: the Minor girls won the South Dublin league final against Holy Child, Killiney. Both Cadette and Senior girls’ teams reached the semi-finals of their respective South Dublin League competitions. The Junior team reached the East Regional quarter-final and the South Dublin league semi-final. Boys’ cricket: another compressed season in May saw 28 matches against other schools. The Senior XI lost to CUS (the eventual winners) in the Cup quarter-final. Boys’ hockey: the under-13 XI reached the Cup semi-final. Frederik Strantz was selected for the Leinster under-16 training panel. The Senior XI reached the semi-final of the League Trophy. Girls’ cricket: the girls’ season was even shorter than the boys’. There were five teams. Girls’ hockey: Sophia Cole was selected for the Irish under-18 squad for international matches in summer 2019. The Senior XI narrowly lost out on the play-off stages of the League. One hundred matches were played by the eight teams. Golf: the first-ever Lionel Munn primary schools’ tournament was held on the College course on June 7th. 42
Rugby: the Senior XV lost in the first round of the Cup, narrowly beaten by St Mary’s of Enniscorthy. Thady McKeever played for the Leinster Metro under-18 throughout the season. The JCT XV qualified for the knock-out stages of their League. Tom Larke was selected for the Leinster Metro Shane Horgan under-16 squad. Tennis: the girls’ team had a frustrating season. The boys’ side reached the semi-final of their League. Hippolyte de Preville won the Beresford Cup.
Other News
We were saddened to hear during the Easter holidays of the death of Professor Terry Dolan, formerly Professor of Old and Middle English at UCD, and a great friend of St Columba’s. Over 35 years he regularly gave lectures at the College. Time after time he delighted a fresh generation of Columbans in a packed Arthur Barton Room with his humour and scholarship. The Irish Times obituary quoted the College’s English website’s tribute: “Terry’s particular talent was a humorous lightness of touch, in discussing language and literature that belied the deep scholarship on which that knowledge rested”. The College was represented at the funeral by Julian Girdham, the current Head of English, and by John Fanagan, the former Head of English. The College was again a host venue for national Culture Night: about 65 visitors, mostly local people, came to the College (many for the first time). The Sub-Warden, Mr Girdham, gave them an historical and architectural tour of the campus, starting in Chapel, on the evening of Friday 21st October. The first Boarding Schools’ Association conference in Ireland took place at the College in November 2018. In February 2019 the Warden and Sub-Warden attended the launch in the Long Room of TCD by the Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, of an exhibition dedicated to the Gwynn family, who had such a profound influence on the history of St Columba’s and of Trinity College. On December 13th 2018 we were delighted to welcome the German Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Deike Potzel, to the College. She had a short tour, listened to the choir singing German Christmas songs, and met Prefects and staff. The Ist Form Science trip again took place, with visits to W5, Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Armagh Planetarium, Exploris Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary and the Life Adventure Centre in Castlewellan. ‘TED’-style talks were given to senior pupils on a great variety of topics by Harry Oke- Osanyintolu, Leonard Lopez, Avouka Assebian, Katherine Kelly, Dmytro Kasienenko, Shannon Dent, Songyon Oh, and Casper Wang. The internal Poetry Aloud competition was won by Shannon Dent, with category winners being Harry Oke-Osanyintolu (senior), Bonnie McCallum (intermediate) and Rachel Shaw and Vivian Tuite, while Harry went on to qualify for the national final at the National Library for the second year in a row. The annual Geography Lecture was given by Mr Peter Lydon of Wesley College, President of the Association of Geography Teachers of Ireland. It was titled “Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Geography”. ‘Fireside Chats’ took place with senior pupils featuring James Gallen (Law and Institutional Abuse), Sorley McCaughey (International Development), Emma McKinley OC (Children’s Rights Alliance) and Senator Neale Richmond (politics). The House Singing Competition at the end of the Hilary Term 2019, always an enjoyable and rambunctious affair, was won by Iona. In May 2019 the College received its second Green Flag at a ceremony in the Helix Theatre.
J.M. Girdham (1974, Sub-Warden) THE COLLEGE
OLD COLUMBANS “Old Columban donations to The Bursary Fund gave me the opportunity to go to St Columba’s”