De La Salle Navan Boys Primary School Class of 64
A group of former schoolmates from the old De La Salle Boy's
Primary School in Navan relived a school excursion of over 45 years ago
when they reunited for a trip to Dublin last Friday 9 July 2010.
Some 22 members of third class from 1963/'64, together with senior boys,
enjoyed a nostalgic reunion to replicate a school trip which had been
organised by their teachers in conjunction with Father Holloway, then
Administrator of Navan parish, as a reward for the class with the best
attendance that academic year. The attendance in third class was 97 per
cent - a remarkably high figure, particularly in view of the fact that
the pupils' average is only nine-and-a-half, the Meath Chronicle report
of from July 1964 said.
The 1964 trip took in an educational tour of Dublin by CIE bus, visiting
the airport, docks, National Museum, Dail Eireann, Trinity College, the
zoo and Portmarnock Strand. They had lunch and tea at Amiens Street
Station restaurant.
Last week's trip saw the group gather at their old alma mater, between
9am and 9.15am, as in their schooldays. They visited their former
classroom and the old assembly hall where each student was presented
with a copy of the roll from the 1963/'64 year, along with the
photograph of the original students who had travelled.
As on the original trip, Dublin Zoo was the first stop. From there, they
went to Leinster House where, after a lunch, a guided tour of both Upper
and Lower Houses was enjoyed, thanks to Deputy Damien English and
Minster Dermot Ahern.
The third location visited was a slight departure from the original as
the Guinness Storehouse was explored, culminating in the customary one
pint after which the original tour came into focus again and the bus hit
for Portmarnock. The students had played a game of football on the beach
there in 1964 and last week's travellers were not to be outdone despite
the passing years and the persistent rain.
A poignant and moving few minutes was spent in memory of six former
classmates since gone to their eternal reward, on the strand. Frank
Rogers, Richie Ledwidge, Jim Fay, Francis Clarke, Padraig Wall and Gerry
Marmion were fondly remembered with words by their old school friends and
six yellow roses were gently floated out with the tide.
On return to Navan, the group gathered at Michael Marmion's Bermingham's
Pub at Ludlow Street where they were later joined by Andy O'Callaghan,
Andy Hosie, Liam Dunne and Pat Lynch.
During the course of the day, many former teachers with whom the group
had contact were remembered, including Brother Dermot, both Brothers
Damian, Brother Richard, Brothers Kevin, Leo, Cornelius and Fintan and
lay teachers Liam Creavin and John Gallagher.
Courtesy:
The Meath Chronicle Wednesday, 14th July, 2010.
by
John Donohoe