ROSCREA Review NO. 96 - NEWSLETTER OF THE CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA UNION Spring/Summer 2014 College President Brendan Feehan, Union President Simon Coyle and CCR Board of Management Chairman Frank Thompson pictured at the recent Business Lunch in Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club. In this issue... G Simon Coyle's year as Union G Reunions of classes of 1953, 1963, 1983, President; 1987 and 1988 G Message from new College President, G Farewell (but not goodbye) to Brendan Feehan; Marcelline Cody; G Reports on various Union events G The sad passing of Gerry Maher; including Dublin Branch Business G Other obituaries; Lunches; G News of Pastmen; G Meeting one of CCR's oldest living pastmen; and lots more. EDITORIAL replacing the Board of heart attack. That Gerry, so full Governors. As well as of life and joie de vivre should representatives of parents and be taken from us so suddenly is staff, it is pleasing to note that a stark reminder of just how Welcome to the Spring 2014 three pastmen are members: its tenuous a hold on life we all issue of the Roscrea Review. Chairman Frank Thompson have. Tributes to Gerry appear This academic year, now (CCR 1963-’68), Tom Stokes elsewhere in this Review. Ar drawing to a close has seen on (CCR 1962-’67) and Barry dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís. the one hand the retirement of Devereux (CCR 1976-’80). College President Marcelline Indeed Frank will have a dual The President and Board of Cody after years of sterling role for a year from May when Management are very anxious to service to CCR and the arrival at he takes over the Union develop even greater links with the helm last January of Mr. Presidency from Simon Coyle. the past student body. To that Brendan Feehan who was We wish them all every success end, Katherine Donovan has formerly on the staff of St. in their various roles in the years recently been appointed Alumni Mary’s College, Rathmines. The ahead. Officer and is spending even Union owes an immense debt of more time than before on such gratitude to Marcelline for her October 2013 brought deep matters. We thank Katherine for great support, her attendance sadness to the entire CCR family all the work she has done on our which added immensely to very with the sudden passing of Gerry behalf over many years and wish many Union occasions and the Maher, pastman, CCR teacher her well in her “new” role. sheer warmth of her welcome and Deputy Principal, Union whenever pastmen individually President to whose family we As Simon Coyle’s year as Union or in Reunion groups visited the extend our deepest and heartfelt President draws to a close, we College. Brendan knows he has sympathies. Gerry who retired thank him for great year as big shoes to fill, but we have just a few years ago was on President and wish Frank every confidence he will do so in holiday in New York where his Thompson every success as he the months and years ahead. daughter Ciara and her husband takes up the role. Steve live and had the joy of [email protected] Recently a Board of meeting his new grandchild Cate Management has been installed, before succumbing to a massive Simon Coyle, joined the firm of Chapman Flood. In 1998 the firm merged Union with Rawlinson Hunter Mazars and was subsequently branded Mazars. The Firm employs 200 President in offices in Dublin and Galway and is part of the international 2013 - 2014 Mazars Worldwide firm. In addition to his responsibilities as Senior Partner he heads the Simon Coyle FCA is a Chartered firm’s Insolvency and Financial Accountant and Joint Senior Advisory Services Division. Partner in Mazars Chartered Accountants. He was part of the Simon married Caroline Sherry Class of 1967-’72. Following CCR (no relation to the famous CCR he took Articles with Coffey Sherrys) in 1985 and they have Gubbins which became part of three children Killian, Natalie Craig Gardner/Price and Owen. He is the brother of Waterhouse. In 1980 he moved Michael Coyle who served as member of Milltown Golf Club to Paris where he spent two Union President in 2011-12. and Lansdowne RFC both of years working throughout Both Simon and Michael have which have several CCR France, Belgium and Spain. On previously served as Chairman pastmen amongst their returning to Ireland in 1982 he of the Dublin Branch. He is a membership. Roscrea Review 2 Message preceded on the Saturday by the was forwarded to all the Abbot’s Cup in Roscrea Golf attendees as a memento of a great from Union Club. A remarkable round of Golf weekend. by Ronnie Culliton (8) yielded a November saw the Dublin Branch 47 point tally and a most popular Dinner which again was a great President winner. Classes of 1963 and 1983 success with over 110 in held anniversary dinners in the attendance including a couple of County Arms in Birr that evening Simon Coyle dozen of those who left the both of which were very well College in the past five years. attended and enjoyed by all. As Dom Richard gave a very What’s another year? Johnny of Union Day itself it was a impressive presentation of the Logan sang plaintively in the relatively quite affair as the boys investment plans the Monastery 1980 Eurovision Song Contest. in the College were on a week- and Board of Management have On 12th May 2013 another year end off. It is essential that we for the College over the coming was the one I was just about to revert to a day which sees some years. A spend programme of €4 embark on having been invested substantive interface between million to add to that which has at the Union AGM in the College. the Union/Past Students and the already been spent to date should With, as I write, scarcely two current students at the College. see the finessing of the physical months to go the year has flown, Insurance issues have been cited infrastructure of the College to has been most enjoyable and a as the reasons for the the highest of standards. So revelation. It is no wonder that disappearance of Past vs Present impressive was the presentation the Presidential term of office sporting fixtures. These must be and so re-assuring of the was reduced to one year. Not overcome or alternate low-risk commitment of the Monastery to many could withstand two years activity developed to take their the College that I took the of the utter deference, respect place. and affection shown to me over presentation to the North the past year. A truly humbling October saw the passing of my America Branch Dinner in New experience. friend and classmate of 1967-72 York on 22nd November. Held in Gerard P Maher (Gerry Ball to the Private Dining room of Within a matter of weeks I those who knew him Delmonico’s Restaurant on West attended the 6th year graduation affectionately). This was a 36th Street and very ably lunch in the College at which the considerable shock given its hosted/organised by Niall soon to be fellow past students of sudden and unexpected nature. Rafferty this was a most the College received their Union The attendance at his funeral enjoyable event to which I was ties and were given a little insight spoke volumes with regard to the able to bring my good lady- into the functioning and purpose affection in which he was held. Caroline. Luminaries from of the Union. This function was Conor Massey has agreed to pen around the US and indeed also one of the last that a short obituary to Gerry Canada were in attendance. John Marcelline Cody attended in her elsewhere in this edition of the Coughlan (in the Ice Cream capacity as outgoing President of Review. On a much happier note distribution business) Des the College. It would be remiss of the month also saw the class of O’Brien (Publican and me not to recognise the great 1953 hold their 60th anniversary Restaurateur) and Charlie Scoope work that Marcelline undertook of leaving the College over two (Roscrea Enterprises!!) were as College President during her days. This was a remarkable amongst the attendees who tenure bringing as she did that event in its organisation by regaled and entertained us that female touch to what Michael O’Carroll, its hosting by evening. What a nice bunch of traditionally has been a very the Monastery and its attendance interesting fellows and great to male oriented environment. by 20 or so of those still on the see the ladies out in force to hear Summer rolled on and I missed a right side of the grass. I was old stories of the deprivations number of Branch Golf outings lucky and privileged to have been and hardship of CCR student life including Dublin and the invited and to witness at first all those years ago!! hand the affection with which the Midlands which were held within On December 15th I had the attendees still held CCR and each a week or so of one another at the pleasure of attending the Annual other after such a long period of end of August. Carol Service in the Monastery time. Subsequent to the event a Union day at the College on Church. The College Orchestra DVD of some 100 photographs Sunday September 15th was and School Choir were centre taken throughout the function 3 ROSCREA Review stage for the event displaying whilst Cathal O’Connell of relevant and detailed formats.