Class of 1956 - 21st Reunion recap

Brian Davitt, co-chief organiser

The class of '56 gathered in 1977 to celebrate the 21st anniversary of their graduation from the College. A wonderful evening was had as evidenced from the pictures below. The Union also used this as an opportunity to catch up on where this class are now, and those notes as published in the 1977 Chronicle, are reproduced below.

DAN CARBERY studied Quantity Surveying at the College of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin. He spent two years studying but moved into the family building business when his father died. He is now Director and Manager of the Carlow branch of the firm. He is a member (and past President) of the Carlow Chamber of Commerce. Attracta O'Carroll became Dan's wife and they have three sons and three daughters. In his spare time, Dan likes caravanning, swimming and water skiing. He is a member of Carlow Golf Club, is actively involved in local rugby and is currently President of Carlow Rugby Club.

PATRICK MURPHY spent five years farming with his father and brothers. He now runs his own farm in Carrick-on-Suir concentrating on dairy and beef production. Patrick married Honora Morrissey and they have seven children — four boys and three girls. His eldest is a first-year student at Castleknock this year and his second son will start with us in September. Patrick is a member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society in Carrick-on-Suir and the Lions Club. For relaxation he enjoys golf and is a member of the local club.

TOM MAHER chose as his career the hotel business. He studied at the Shannon Airport Hotel School where he obtained a Diploma in Hotel Management. By working in Germany, France and London he continued his training and broadened his experience of the hotelier's role. Tom is Managing Director of The Bush Ltd, a family-owned company which runs the hotel of the same name in Carrick-on-Shannon. He also holds an Auctioneer's Licence. Totally committed professionally to his career, Tom has been a Council Member of the Irish Hotels Federation since 1966, a member of its Management Committee since 1975 and is currently Vice President of the Federation. He is also a member of the Irish Hotel and Catering Institute. On a local level, he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. It is probably impossible to live in a place such as Carrick-on-Shannon without becoming involved with that noble river in some way. Tom is involved as a Committee Member of the Shannon Boat Rally and as a member of the local branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland. He enjoys boating and water skiing. His other interests are golf and tennis and he is a member of Carrick-on-Shannon Golf Club, Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club and the National Yacht Club. Tom married Rosaleen MacHugh and they have three sons.

DONAL DUGGAN took a B.Comm. degree at the National University of Ireland. He is a Partner in Kenny, Doody & Co., Chartered Accountants in Dublin. Prior to that Donal was Secretary/Accountant with CERT Ltd., a State-sponsored body responsible for the education, recruitment and training of personnel for the tourism, hotel and catering industry in Ireland. Donal married Gladys Fitzgerald and they have three sons. Golf is his main hobby and he has been a Committee member in his Club for four years.

JOHN KISSANE continued his studies at University College Dublin where he qualified as a Dental Surgeon. He practices in New Ross. John and his wife have a family of five — four sons and one daughter. His keen interest in music is demonstrated by his role as Musical Director of St. Joseph's Choral Society in New Ross. John favours golf and badminton as sporting activities and he belongs to the local clubs. He also enjoys gardening, reading and travel and has an interest in languages.

WILLIAM POWER married Rose McElroy, sister of another Castleknock man Jack McElroy. They have two sons and a daughter. William took a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) degree at the University of Reading. Until recently he was a Director of Goulding Building Limited. He has just set up in business on his own account in system building and we wish him every success in his venture. Currently Treasurer of the Dun Laoghaire Lions Club William enjoys golf and is a member of Courtown Golf Club.

CHRIS SHEEHAN commutes daily between Kill, Co. Kildare and Dublin where he is Financial Planning Manager with Allied Irish Banks Limited. Until 1970 when he was transferred to Head Office, he was in Branch Banking. During his spare time Michael studied accountancy and qualified as A.C.C.A. and A.C.I.S. Home, family and garden are high on Chris's list of interest. He and his wife have four children — 3 boys and a girl. He enjoys squash, golf (has a 19 handicap) and Bridge. He also likes to sing, and does so, with the Nas na Ri Singers.

NIALL MAC MAHON qualified as a Chartered Accountant and is in practice in Dublin. He spent two years with Forsyth & Co. as Audit Manager before setting up his own practice in 1969. From 1967 to 1973 he was Lecturer in Accountancy to A.C.A. and A.C.C.A. students. Niall, his wife and son and daughter live in Sutton, Co. Dublin. Golf is his main sporting interest and he is currently Hon. Treasurer of Sutton Golf Club.

Michael McNamara graduated from the Cathal Brugha College of Hotel Management and continued his studies in Toronto, Canada, where he graduated in Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Administration at the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. His early practical training began in the Royal Hibernian Hotel in Dublin and this was followed by a period spent in the George V in Paris and the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. Michael then spent seven years working with the Trust House Group in England. He came back to Ireland and spent four years as General Manager of the Mount Brandon Hotel in Tralee, Co. Kerry. He is now General Manager of the Royal Dublin Hotel and is a member of the Irish Hotels Federation and the Irish Hotel and Catering Institute. Michael's wife Rosemary (nee Duffy) comes from Derry. They have two sons and two daughters. He describes himself as a "Summer Golfer" and also enjoys fishing and gardening.

CONAL O'SUILIVAN had the hotel industry in his blood, his father being Toddy O’Sullivan of Greshan Hotel fame. Conal's formal training began in Switzerland where he obtained a Diploma from L'Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne. He also attended the Graduate School of Marketing and Sales Management, Cyracuse University, New York State. Conal was Regional Coordinator to Esso Motor Hotels, Director of Marketing in the Heathrow Hotel, General Manager of the Metropole Hotel in London and the Skyway Hotel London Airport and General Manager of the Skyway Hotel in Southampton. He is at present General Manager of the Cavendish Hotel in London. The original Cavendish Hotel was the subject of a recent popular television series The Duchess of Duke Street. He is a member of the Hotel Catering and Institutional Management Association. Conal married Vera Sturze and they have one son. They live in Marlow, Bucks, where Conal is an active member of several Parish Fund Raising Committees. He is interested in photography and motoring, is an ex-Rally driver and belongs to the local Camera and Motor Clubs.

SEAMUS CAMPBELL now lives in Drumshanbo. He married Frances O'Donnell and they have two sons. When Seamus left Castleknock he joined the family business — General Merchants and Builders' Providers — in Carrick-on-Shannon. In 1965 he became Manager of the Drumshambo branch of the firm. He and his family setted there permanently in 1973. Seamus enjoys his game of golf and is a member of Carrick-on-Shannon Golf Club.

TOMMY ACTON started farming with his father and brothers on the family farm in Kilcock. He spent a short time studying agriculture in the United States and South Africa. He came back to Ireland and bought 200 acres of land near Navan where he farms using a system of sheep, cattle and tillage. Tommy married Elizabeth Fay and they have one daughter. He is an active member of the Irish Farmers' Association and is a member of North Kildare Rugby Club.

GEOFFREY BOURKE attended University College Galway and University College Dublin and qualified in veterinary medicine. For a while he worked in England and in the Limerick and Cork area before settling in Castlebar where he now lives with his wife and four sons. He is a partner in a busy two-man practice but also manages to give occasional lectures to farming communities and to breed Connemara ponies. Geoffrey is interested in photography and for outdoor relaxation enjoys sailing and fishing. He is a member of sailing, fishing and angling clubs.

PATRICK WARD began farming when he left Castleknock. He married Valerie Cunniam and they have one son and three daughters. Patrick and family live in Kilcloon, Dunboyne, Co. Meath, where he concentrates his farming efforts on beef and lamb production for both home and export markets. His main sporting interest is rugby and he is a member of Lansdowne Rugby Football Club.

DENIS MCCARTHY went into the Banking business on leaving Castleknock. He held positions in the Bank of Ireland in Dublin and in various country branches. He studied Internal preliminary and final Bank examinations run by the Institute of Bankers in Ireland. Denis is at present Assistant Manager in the Bank of Ireland in Loughrea, Co. Galway. He married Joan Carton and they have five children, four sons and one daughter. An enthusiastic yachtsman and golfer Denis is a Committee Member of both the Sailing and Golf Clubs in Loughrea. He is Secretary of the local Chamber of Commerce, actively involves himself with worthwhile community endeavour and is a member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society.

Reverend FRANCIS A. LYNE CM., is Senior Professor of Physics. Bursar and Form Master at St. Paul's College, Raheny. He took his B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics at University College, Dublin, and studied theology in St. Kevin's Vincential House of Studies, Arklow. After ordination, Fr. Francis spent several years' active involvement with the Legion of Mary and Patrician movements, but although he is still in contact to some extent, pressure of other work now takes precedence. Since 1965 he has been involved in School Basketball. In 1966 he was elected Chairman of the Leinster Branch, a position he held until 1976 when he became Chairman of the Irish Schools Basketball Association. During his ten years as Chairman of the Leinster Branch, membership jumped from 14-16 schools each year to 70-75 schools. This increase came about as a result of the introduction of graded competitions to encourage greater participation in Basketball by schools. The development of a sound financial policy in the Association has made it possible to have almost all games played indoors. Fr. Francis was a founder member of the Football Association of Irish Schools and is the longest serving member of the Executive Committee of the Leinster Branch which has grown from 5 to 82 in the past eight years. As a member of that Committee he organised the first under 13 soccer Blitz which has been hosted by St. Paul for five years out of six. Treasurer of the Irish School Sports' Federation which is affiliated to the International School Sports' Federation, Fr. Francis represented Ireland at a meeting of that organisation in Yugoslavia in 1974.

PHILIP CLOHOSEY joined the Bank of Ireland when he left Castleknock College, and he is at present Operations Manager in the Bank's Cork office. He also held positions in Castlebar, Carlow and Dublin. He was actively involved in the Junior Chamber for a number of years. Philip married Joan Murphy and they have a family of four — one son and three daughters. He has a keen interest in all sport and golf in particular. Philip has played off a single figure handicap for many years now and is a member of Monkstown Golf Club.

DICK BRADY farms at Tatestown, Navan, Co.Meath. He married Eithne Ward and they have five children — four sons and a daughter. Dick is a keen rugby fan. He played with Lansdowne for four years on leaving Castleknock. In 1963 he began to play for Navan, won three Provincial Town Cup medals and was Captain in 1966 and 1967. He has now started to coach several teams in Navan. Dick takes a special interest in the development of junior players and two of his sons are on the under eleven team which has been very successful over the past two seasons. Like father, like sons!

DESMOND DORRIS graduated from Queen's University Belfast in 1961 with the degree of L.L.B. He attended the Incorporated Law Society's series of lectures for three years during his apprenticeship, qualifying in 1964. He then worked as an Assistant Solicitor. He now runs his own practice in Belfast where he lives with his wife. Desmond is a member of Queen's University Gymnasium where he enjoys swimming and squash and he is a member of Fortwilliam Golf Club.

COLM GALLIGAN joined the family business, Galligan Ltd. Men's Outfitters, when he left Castleknock. He is now Chairman and Joint Managing Director of the company which has its Head Office in Dublin and branches in the suburbs and in Limerick. Colm married a French girl, Sylvaine Nievsan, who came from Lourdes. They live in an idyllic setting at the edge of a lake in Roundwood and have three children — one son and two daughters. For relaxation, Colm enjoys fishing, hunting and shooting.

BRIAN DAVITT studied at University College Dublin, where he took a B.Comm. and later, in 1972, an M.B.A. The competitive world of advertising was Brian's career choice. He joined CDP Ltd. and subsequently Peter Owens Ltd. as Senior Account Executive. He is now joint Managing Director of Lalor & Partners Limited and Chairman of Multimedia Ltd., a company specialising in sports advertising. He is a Council Member of the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland and the Association of Business Administration Graduates, and a member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. An active sportsman, Brian enjoys squash, tennis, rugby and golf and is a member of Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Monkstown Rugby Football Club and Hon. Treasurer of the Irish Squash Rackets Association. Brian and his wife Frances (nee Brennan) have two children, a son and a daughter.

CONOR CASSIDY his wife and their son live in Newtownabbey, N. Ireland. Conor is a Management Accountant with the Ford Motor Company in Belfast. Prior to his present position he was Cost Accountant with a company in Carrickfergus and also worked as Senior Audit Clerk with Coopers & Lybrand. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. Golf is Conor's main sporting interest and he is a member of Ballyclare Golf Club.

PADDY SHORTALL took a B.Comm. degree at University College Dublin. He continued his studies in accountancy and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He joined Price Waterhouse & Co. in London and was subsequently transferred by the company to their offices in Barcelona. From sunny Spain Paddy returned to Dublin and became a partner in the accountancy firm of Coopers & Lybrand. He enjoys squash, tennis and golf and is a member of Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club and Milltown Golf Club.

KEVIN BYRNE took a B.Comm. degree and subsequently his M.A. at Trinity College, Dublin. He is a Company Secretary. Kevin's hobbies are squash, boating and sub-aqua diving. He is a member of Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, the Curragh Sub Aqua Club, Trinity College Dublin Association and the Irish Bankers Club. Richard Barrett spent four years in England, training in the textile trade. He came back to Ireland in 1962 and started his own company, R. Barrett & Co. Ltd., Dublin, Wool Merchants and exporters of wool to all parts of the world. He is a member of the Junior Chamber, the Irish Exporters' Association and Past President of the Irish Wool Federation. Richard, his wife Iris (nee McManus) and their three sons live in Foxrock, Co. Dublin, where Richard is involved in the local Youth Movement and is manager of the Boys' Soccer Team. He plays a little golf, likes to go back to his old home town of Ballina to enjoy the excellent fishing on the River Moy and manages to swim in the "40 foot" in Sandy cove on almost every day of the year!

CHRISTOPHER DOMEGAN qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon and began to practice in Co. Kildare. He now lives with his wife and four daughters in Clonaluy, Co. Dublin, where he started his own practice in 1964. In 1971 Christopher took up farming and now combines both activities successfully. On the Veterinary side he is concentrating on feed cot medicine and in 1974 he built a feed-cot for 700 cattle. On a local level, Christopher is involved in various parish committees and despite his busy life also manages to enjoy lake fishing, boating and music.

TOMMY LOMBARD joined the firm of W. Edwards & Co., Auctioneers and Estate Agents in Warrington, Lanes, as an articled pupil/assistant when he left Castleknock. His career progressed as a Real Estate Representative with Shell Mex & B.P. Ltd. in the Liverpool area. Tommy returned to Ireland and is presently Senior Partner with Jones Lang Wootton. Chartered Surveyors and Real Estate Consultants. He is a council member of the Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Living in Goatstown, Tommy and his wife Joan Nestor have a family of four, two girls and two boys. He is interested in golf, tennis and shooting and is a member of the United Services Club, Milltown Golf Club, Courtown Golf Club. Fassaroe Rifle and Pistol Club, Gorey Tennis Club and Lansdowne Football Club — an active sporting life!

JOHN EUSTACE qualified in medicine and has practised in the Far East, the Persian Gulf, Cyprus and Germany. He now lives in England with his wife and family of three, a son and two daughters. He is a General Practitioner in a two-man practice with another Dublin Doctor. John enjoys playing golf, badminton and tennis and, a more relaxing activity — fishing. He is due to return to Ireland in 1981.

JAMES KISSANE continued his studies at University College Dublin where he obtained a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree. He worked as an Agronomist with Goulding Fertilisers Ltd. and is now Area Manager, South Eastern Region, with the same company. Earlier in his career, James held the position of Lecturer in Soil Science in the Faculty of Agriculture, University College. Dublin. James does some farming on his own account near New Ross where he lives with his wife Marie (nee Flood), three sons and two daughters. Sporting activities favoured by James are badminton and golf. His other interests are fanning and, an unusual one — welding.

TOM SHERIDAN has had a long family connection with Castleknock — in fact his youngest brother, Anthony, is a 1977 Leaving Certificate student and Tom's eldest son will carry on the family tradition when he starts his studies with us in September. Tom spent three years with the Ford Motor Company when he left Castleknock. He then returned to the family business (Sheridan Motor Company of Waterford and Carlow) and held various positions in sales. He is now Managing Director of the firm which is a group of companies involved in car leasing and oil distribution. Actively involved in Waterford business life, he has been President of the Junior Chamber and is Currently Vice-President of the Rotary Club in the town. Tom married Constance Nolan in 1962 and they have a family of three — two boys and a girl.

MICHAEL TATTAN is now living in Cashel, Co. Tipperary, and is a salesman with Blackwood Hodge Ltd. in Munster. His early career was in Hotel Management and he received his Diploma from the Shannon Hotel School. He worked in Germany for three years, became fluent in the language and met Christa Hielscher who became his wife. They have a family of three boys. Michael subsequently worked with P. & O. Lines and was fortunate enough to visit places like Australia. New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Fiji, Tahite and South Africa. Back at home now he enjoys golf and is a member of Thurles Golf Club. His other interests are gardening and antiques. He is a past member of Lions International.

JOHN DUHIG continued his studies at University College Dublin where he obtained a degree (B.E. Electrical). He also took a Diploma Course at Manchester Business School. John has been with the Mardon Group of Companies (jointly owned by BAT and Imperial Tobacco) in several capacities: firstly as Production Director of Smith Brothers Ltd. (UK) and then as Chairman and Managing Director of Superior Packaging in Dublin. He is still a Director of that company. Recently John, his wife, Phyllis, and their family of three have emigrated to sunny Florida, U.S.A., where John is Managing Director of Arnold Cellophane Corporation, the first U.S. acquisition by the Mardon Group. The Crooked Creek Country Club in Miami provides the facilities for John to enjoy his hobbies — golf, squash, fishing and tennis. He is keen to keep in touch with old Castleknock friends.

Fr. EDDIE ROONEY ends his questionnaire with a somewhat intriguing, even enigmatic reply to the final question: Other items or interests -"Wouldn't dare to mention them!" However, enough levity. Fr. Eddie is now the pastor of St. Catherine's Church, Orange Park, Florida. He studied for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College, Carlow and was ordained in June 1962. He then went to the U.S.A. and held teaching posts in St. Judes High School and McGill High School in Alabama. Post Graduate Studies in Career Counselling at the Catholic University of America followed in 1965. Golf and tennis are sports enjoyed by Fr. Eddie whose local involvement is such that it would seem as if there was not a lot of time available for them. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Orange Park and a Board Member of St. Vincent's Mental Health Centre, Jacksonville, Florida.

J. OLIVER QUINN, his wife Jacqueline and their family of three enjoy the demanding but rewarding life of hoteliers. Oliver is Joint Managing Director of the Ballymascanlon and Imperial hotels in Dundalk. There are no short cuts in the hotel business and Oliver began his career as a trainee in the Gresham Hotel. Dublin. His formal studies followed and consisted of a 3 year Diploma course at the Scottish Hotel School. He then broadened his experience by working in London and in France. Currently Chairman of the Dundalk Football Club and a member of the Dundalk Round Table, his main interests are soccer, rugby, golf, squash and horse racing.

Fr. DONAL SULLIVAN, CM., was ordained in 1964 having studied at St. Joseph's, Blackrock. He came back to Castleknock in September of the same year and now acts as Guidance Counsellor in the College, a task which involves him both in Career Guidance and general counselling of students. Whilst in the Vincentian Seminary, Fr. Donal completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in University College, Dublin, and followed this with a Higher Diploma in Education at the same college in 1964/65. He took a Post-Graduate Course in the Mater Dei Institute in 1973 and obtained a Diploma in Career Guidance and Counselling. At Castleknock, Fr. Donal has held the positions of Junior Dean (1964-66) and Senior Dean (1968-70) and has also been a member of the Teaching Staff. Fr. Donal has an active interest in sport and especially in rugby (coaching), golf and tennis. He is a member of Newlands Golf Club and is a Committee Member of Leinster Schools' Lawn Tennis Association. He is in charge of tennis at the college. Fr. Donal enjoys the cinema and music and is a keen traveller. He often spends some time in Florida as relief for Fr. Eddie Rooney who is pastor of St. Catherine's Church there.

CHRIS COSGRAVE has been managing his own farm in Enfield. Co. Meath, since 1960. Chris and his wife have three daughters. His wife's family are keen G.A.A. supporters so he attends a good many matches. Pastmen will remember how Chris helped the College win a number of Tennis Cups in the 1950s. He is presently a member of North Kildare tennis, hockey and rugby Club.