The Past Pupils Union 1931-1981
Legend has it that the concept of a Past Pupils' Union originated from a meeting of Jack O Regan and J. Tracey "under a gas lamp in St. Patrick's Place" in the Autumn of 1930, but it seems that the then Principal of the College, Rev. Brother J.X. O Hanlon, may have planned the idea. The inaugural meeting was held in the Physics Laboratory at the College on March 23rd 1931, and the large attendance was presided over by Dean Sexton, who was one of the first pupils in the College in 1888.The attendants included Billy Collins, Barry and Fred Cudmore, Dr. Victor Dillon, Tom Doyle, Barry Egan T.D., Barry Galvin, Joe Kavanagh, Tom Doyle, Jimmy Lee, Tom Magahy, Joe Mangan, Dick McCarthy, Dr. Tom Neville, Peter O Flynn, Prof. Charlie O Connell, W.J.L.O Connell, Dr. Tom O Connor, Barry O Meara, Jack O Regan, Michael Quillinan, Michael Shinkwin, J.J. Stanton, Eddie Twomey, John E. Walsh and Harry Thompson. Dr. Walter Rahilly became the first President of the Union with the quiet Bro. O Hanlon and the effervescent Dean Sexton as Vice-Presidents.
The first Annual Dinner was held at the Victoria Hotel on Wednesday 29th April, 1931, the attendance numbering about 120. A river cruise to East Ferry took place on 18th June, 1931:
"The Failte lay at the Custom House Quay
Her engines all a quiver,
For the pupils and 'old boys' of C.B.C.
We're going for a trip down the river."
The first Annual General Meeting was held at the College on 16th November 1931, the names of the elected officers and committee members were:
President: Dr. Walter Rahilly
Vice Presidents: Dean P. Sexton, Br.J.X. O Hanlon & F. O Hanlon
Hon Secretaries: J.J. Stanton & J.J. O Regan
Hon Treasurers: E.J. Twomey, J.E. Walsh
Committee: P.J. Barry, B.M. Egan, B. Galvin, D. Linehan, D.F. Nagle, Rev J. O Brien, W.J.L. O Connell, P. O Flynn, E. O Mahony, B.M. O Meara, J.F. O Regan, Dr. M. Shinkwin & F. Simcox
In March 1932, the initial Golf Competition for Union members was arranged and in 1934, the then Principal, Rev. Brother J.D. Fitzpatrick presented for competition among the golfing members of the Union a splendid trophy, which has since become known as "The Union Cup".
Under the guidance of Rev Brother Fitzpatrick, the first opera - "The Pirates of Penzance" - was presented at the Palace Theatre. This splendid presentation was followed by many other equally good productions in the next few years - "The Mikado", "The Gondoliers", "Ruddigore", "The Yeomen of the Guard" and "Patience". The cast included among others, the following artists, viz. - Kevin Barry, Jimmy Casey, Dom Coffey, Jim Doran, John Donovan, Stanley Devlin, Hugh Conlon, Jack Fitzgerald, Gerard Fitzgerald, Sean Foley, Jim Healy, Jerry Kerins, Maurice McMahon, Aidan MacSweeney and George O Sullivan.
The Union organised the first Annual College Sports at the Mardyke Cricket Grounds on 21st June 1934, and in the same year the first Annual Prize Debate at the School of Art was arranged and sponsored by the Union.
In 1936 the College recorded its eighth win in the Munster Senior Schools' Cup Competition - the team was captained by Michael Forde.
At the Annual General Meeting of 1937 John Coakley, was elected to join Jack O Regan as Hon. Secretary, and in the same year a presentation of a chalice was made by Dr. Finbarr Ryan O.P., on his elevation to the Archbishopric of Trinidad.
In 1938 the Junior Team won the Munster trophy for the first time - Hugo Flinn was captain and main inspiration in the victory. In 1934/35/36 the Juniors were unsuccessful finalists in the Competition, which was initiated in season 1930/31. In 1939 Bill O Brien became Hon. Treasurer - the Annual Subscription was then 10/- and life membership was available at three guineas!
In the same year a Union Dance was held at the Imperial Hotel - tickets were 6/6. The early forties saw the establishment of two conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul - one for pupils , presided over by Edmund Hayes, and the other for past pupils, who were guided by Jack Nagle.
In 1941 the idea of a Newboys' Club was mooted and on the 11th December 1942 the Club at French Church Street was officially opened under the directorship of John Coakley, besides whom the initial group of "Brothers" included Arthur Allen, Maurice Daly, Donal Foley, Dan Kiely, Chris Lehane, Gerry Madden, Charlie Murphy, Bill O Brien, Jack O Regan and Jimmy Rearden.
The Junior Past Pupils formed a separate branch in 1943, when Jimmy Doran was elected its Hon. Secretary.
At the College two further Schools Senior Cup Victories were recorded in 1943 and 1944 when Teddy Murphy was captain.
In the latter years the Newboys' Club moved operations to Lavitt's Quay. About this time, new "brothers" joining the ranks included Liam Devlin, Mick Lane, Vincent O Connell, Pearse O Leary, Victor Richards and Tom Tarbett. Also in 1944, the Union acquired an interest in St. Luke's Tennis Club, which was relinquished in the Autumn - too many double faults!
1945 saw the establishment of the Dublin branch of the Union, and in the same year major works took place at Lansdowne, when a new pavilion and tennis courts were constructed and were officially opened on the 28th April 1946. Also in that year, the Drama Group was established and Dom Coffey was producer of the first and second productions - "The Wind and the Rain" and 'Nothing but the Truth". In this decade the Cricket Club enjoyed much progress and success.
In February 1946 a reunion was held in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin after the Ireland V. England International, and the Annual Dinner at Hotel Metropole on St. Patrick's Night, Irish Stew was piped in by an Army Piper.
In May 1948, the idea of establishing an Old Boys Rugby Club was promoted and at the first Annual General Meeting Dr. Tony O Sullivan was elected President, Chris Lehane Hon. Secretary and Jim McCarthy Captain. In the next five years a number of attractive friendlies were played.
The Diamond Jubilee was appropriately celebrated in 1948, and under the guiding influence and wisdom of the then Principal, Rev. Brother J.E. Nolan, a splendid edition of the "Collegian" was produced. We quote from the editorial:-
"It is by no means an exhaustive compilation of the achievements of our Past Pupils. Therefore we can claim indulgence for any omissions; inevitable in dealing with such an extensive period."
1950 was the year in which a Pembrokeshire Youths R.F.C. first visited Cork to play the College Senior XV captained by Pat Cashman. In the following year having the same skipper, a return visit was made to Wales. The party was guided by Dr. Tony O Sullivan and Bill O'Brien as "alec-adoos". This home and away fixture survived until the mid sixties. It was also in 1950 that Methody (Belfast) made the first journey to Cork to play the College Senior XV. That annual game ( home and away in alternate years) still survives as a high point in the fixture list.
In 1952 the Munster Schools XV which played a Welsh Youth XV at Swansea included Brian Coffey, Myles McGinley, Bernard O Mahony and Brian Wain who was College Captain, thus emulating the representation of three ( Pat Cashman, Brian Hardwick & Brian Wain) on the Munster XV which lined out at the Mardyke for the first game against Wales the previous year.
Also in 1952, led by the Irish Close Champion, Tom Egan, the Union golf team won the Inter-Union trophy. Work was well advanced in a major extension of the College on to McCurtain Street and the Blessing and Official Opening took place in February 1953. The Union members presented a Sound Cine-projector to mark the auspicious occasion.
In 1953 the College recorded its second win in the Munster Junior Cup Competition. The team was led from the front by try scoring Noel Murphy. Major works in Lansdowne including levelling were carried out - some finance required was obtained from a successful Non-Stop Draw.
Later that year An Taoiseach, John A. Costello was guest of honour at the Annual Dinner.
By now many city Newboys had been enjoying summer holidays ( at least one week or maybe three in the case of the clever ones) at the newly constructed Holiday 'Camp' ( concrete structure, asbestos roof, water from the well, light by the candle, and grub cooked on the primus) at Ringabella - much hilarity and rounders. Previous holidays were arranged at Inch and Knockadoon in hired accommodation - different scene but "de same bruds", Pat Barry, David Bradley, Joe Gray, Michael O Connell and Peter O Regan had joined the ranks of helpers in the N.B. Club.
In 1955 Old Christians RFC entered the competitive scene in all but the senior rank. Some of the officers elected at the Annual General Meeting were Jim Barry (Chairman), Sean Scanlon (Vice-Chairman), Joe O Mahony (Hon. Secretary) and Pat Cashman (Club Captain).
In the following year the College Senior XV recorded the eleventh victory in the Munster Schools' Cup Competition. Jim O Donoghue was captain. In the same year the Union's Golf Team won the William Dwyer Cup.
An Taoiseach, Eamon De Valera was the dignitary at the Annual Dinner. Stephen Barrett took due note of his presence in proposing a witty toast to our distinguished visitor and the other guests that were present.
1959 saw the departure of Rev. Bro. J.I. Clarke. His place as principal was filled by Rev. Bro. J.W. Gibson. Immediately the Gilbert and Sullivan operas were back on stage in the College under his guidance. The theatre group got a new lease of life in the latter half of the fifties and in 1959 Old Christians RFC recorded its first competitive victories in no less than three competitions - the Under Age Cup (Kevin Barr was captain), and Jerry Casey led the Minor team to victory in the Cork Minor Cup and Minor League.
In the first year of the new decade Old Christians theatre won the distinction of capturing the award for the one-act play section at the National Drama Festival in Athlone with "The Borrowing Version". In the same year Old Christians RFC, captained by Adrian O'Donovan won the Cork Junior League for the first time.
In 1962 another victory was achieved by the Senior XV (captained by Wally Morrissey) in the Munster Schools Competition. The first Munster double for CBC was recorded in this year when the Junior's (captained by James O'Shea) recorded the third win in the provincial competition.
Light opera flourished at the College in the early sixties. The seventy fifth Anniversary of the foundation of the College was celebrated with High Mass at St. Patrick's Church on 24th May, 1963, and an Anniversary Ball at the Metropole was well attended.
The then incumbent President attended a revival meeting of the Dublin branch on 22nd February, 1963 at which Dr. Harry Jack was elected its President.
The following year the Newsboy's Club, with the full approval of the Union, handed over its premises at Ringabella to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which body took over the NBC overdraft. Members will be pleased to know that many improvements have been made in the following years and holidays over a period of ten to twelve weeks each Summer were provided for less fortunate children and senior citizens - gratifying indeed!
It was also in 1964 that Old Christians RFC acquired five acres for playing pitches at Carrigmore. A year later the Junior XV, captained by Barty Quinlan, captured its first Munster Junior Cup.
In 1964, past pupil Fr. Brendan McCarthy wrote conveying much gratitude to the Union and to individual members for the various sums of money sent to his mission in Chile towards the building of a church.
It was the same year that the Annual Subscription for Union members was increased to �1.
At the Annual General Meeting of 1966, the newly installed Principal Rev. Bro. M.A. McGrath reminded members that the College had an enormous debt. Many views were put forward on the matter and in his wisdom Br. McGrath proceeded to wipe out the deficit in a most efficient and prompt manner himself.
At the Annual Dinner in 1967 Rev. Bro. J.E. Nolan was the recipient of an appropriate and well merited presentation on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee. In the latter part of this decade the Junior Branch was particularly active. Talent and money was used in charitable projects in particular a visitation to patients of Our Lady's Hospital, Lee Road. A very successful Parent/Teacher meeting was held in the Metropole Hotel in 1969.
The oldest living past pupil, Most Rev. Dr. Finbarr Ryan O.P. was guest of honour at the 1970 Annual Dinner. He delivered a most eloquent and inspiring talk at which those in attendance marvelled.
It would be invidious to comment on the seventies without first referring to the extraordinarily consistent dominance the various College Senior Teams enjoyed on the Munster Schools Rugby scene. Eight wins recorded in 1971 (captain, Pat Ahern), 1972 (captain, Donal Daly), 1973 (captain, Ciaran Parfrey), 1974 (captain, Ciaran Parfrey), 1976 (captain, John Barry), 1977 (captain, Donal Lenihan), 1979 (captain, Gerald Fitzgerald), 1980 (captain, Fintan O'Gorman), is a wonderful tribute to the boys comprising these teams and above all the brilliant guidance and exceptional ability of school coach, Bro. P.F. O'Reilly, who was ably and generously assisted over the decade by Noel Murphy, Dr. Paddy Kiely, Bob Casey and Con O'Leary. Bro. Ciaran McGrath, coach of the Junior XV, assisted by Noel Kavanagh, made sure of a decade of wins when his charges recorded victories in 1971, 1975, and 1978.
The Junior Branch continued its commendable activities for patients in hospital and in collaboration with Mr Brian Murphy, who worked so assiduously in guiding students in their chosen vocations and careers; the Junior Past Pupils lent a helping hand by way of seminars on careers for the pupils.
In the mind of the principal, Rev. Bro. J.L. O'Reilly, who took office in 1971, a changing or new CBC was imminent, and at the Annual General Meeting in 1974 he gave a splendid expose on the matter. However, the first move in that direction was to fall to his successor, Rev. Bro. J.V. Hutton, who in his three years of office changed residence for the community from St. Gabriel's to Crotamor, Sidney Hill, and in purchasing the adjacent Mount Carmel acquired about four acres in all.
Later in the decade Old Christians RFC acquired eight acres at Kilcully, to provide further playing pitches for the growing membership including the many juvenile teams being fielded each weekend. A noble achievement and an indication of the commendable club spirit was the registration of some seventy five life memberships at �100 each as an initial means of financing the project.
For most of the latter half of the decade, light opera was presented at CBC - much of the toil and effort being expended by, among others, Union members Bro. Ciaran McGrath, and Vincent and Brian Murphy.
Rev. Brother Normoyle (CBC in the thirties) was in Cork in 1976 to deliver a talk on the cause for Beatification of the Orders Founders, Brother Edmond Ignatius Rice. In 1979 the Union presented a cheque towards the furnishings of the beautiful Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament at Mount Sion, Waterford. The Union President and other members were present at ceremonies in August of that year.
The Annual Subscription was altered to �5 at the annual General Meeting in 1979 - after many previous attempts to update the matter had failed. Initiated and promoted by the then President, the aim for the Jubilee year was a register of 500 current members, the target was reached in 1982. In 1980 the imminence of the Jubilee Year promoted the Union Committee to present the College with a computer.
Largely because of the urgency and importance of the event the Jubilee year celebrations commenced somewhat prematurely and with immense success - that "Noel Murphy" lunch (overflow patrons had to retire to the main dining room at the Metropole Hotel), followed by Bro. P.F. O'Reilly talk on the Irish Schools' Party tour of Australia were pointers to the subsequent success of the moving Jubilee Mass, concelebrated by five past pupils - Ven. Archdeacon J.J. O'Sullivan, Rev. Fr. J.F. Byrne, Rev. Fr. K. Murphy O'Connor, Rev. Fr. T.R. Riordan, and Re. Fr. Talty, over which Dean J. Bastible presided at the College.
The full house Annual General Meeting was the best attended for decades and the St. Stephens Night Dinner Dance was a marked social success and the new Principal of the College Br. M.D. James consolidated the bond between College and Union by honouring those at the function with his presence.
The Jubilee Dinner at the Metropole on 14th February 1981 had a record attendance of 353. A large number of former staff members attended and six past pupils who has attended the first Annual Dinner in 1931 were present; namely: Billy, Collins, Fred Cudmore, Tom Magahy, Dr. T.P. O'Connor, Harry Thompson, Dr. J.F. O'Sullivan; all the Barry brothers were there, Peter, Jim, Tony, and John (who travelled from Rome) and all the Scannells, Brian, Desmond, John and Tim.
Eloquent and well researched speeches where made by Bro. Elliot and Dr. Tom O'Connor, to both of which Bro. Connie Horan, (deputising for Bro. James) responded.
With typical wit and humour Ted Crosbie proposed the toast of the guests. The concluding speech of the evening, given by the Provincial Bro. C.C. Galvin, was one with a clear and alarming message "that the Christian Brothers were giving serious thought and consideration as to how the should be carrying out their vocation as religious people, and because of falling numbers in vocations the Order was faced with having to make decisions, which may involve withdrawal from some schools!" It was crystal clear that Christian College could be one under consideration. It was fair and courteous of Br Gavin to have given notice and, by so doing; he afforded an opportunity to the Past Pupils Union to make appropriate representations to have the matter put right. It should be recorded that Br Gavin was highly complimentary in his remarks on the standard of excellence and notable fame to be witnessed in the achievements of the alumni of CBC, and her congratulated all present and some unavoidably absent on their distinctive brand of loyalty to their Alma Mater.
A deputation travelled to the Provincialate at St. Helens, Booterstown on 27th March 1981 soliciting an undertaking that CBC would not be a school from which the Brothers would withdraw. In a memorable and courteous discussion Bro. Gavin with Consultor Bro. Gilmore stated that "initially no plans existed with him or his Consultors for withdrawal from Christian Brothers College but that they were looking at all situations throughout the country!." He summed up the situation by saying that "his council had the final decision but it was his sincere wish that a new school would be built and the Brothers would remain as long as it was possible to do so". This good news pleased the visiting group which comprised: Brian Wain President, Peter Barry, Pat Cashman, Bro. James, Noel Murphy and Bill O'Brien.
On Saturday 25th 1981 at the Mardyke, a Methodist College Belfast former pupils XV were our guests in an entertaining game of rugby with a Christians Past team. The visitors were lead by Mr. W.H.S. Lavery, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Methodist College who in his programme message wrote: "The perpetuation of relationships between two famous schools such as Christian Brothers College, Cork and Methodist College, Belfast, is a wonderful conception and when it is doe within the context of rugby football, there exists an added significance. For this reason the former pupils of Methody were delighted to receive the invitation to play a game of rugby in Cork today as part of the celebrations of CBC Past Pupils Union Fiftieth Anniversary. At such things are relationships made and enhanced and the Methody party wish to express their sincere thanks to CBC PPU for their initiative which has made the occasion possible." Because of the generous sponsorship by Past Pupils and friends for the Jubilee Year rugby match, it was possible to present a cheque for �500 to the Honan Home as per Bro. O'Connor, Principal of the Junior School.
The tragic rugby accident that befell Gus Barrett in a "colours" match when playing for UCC on 14th February 1981 at the Mardyke promoted the committee to organise a benefit match between CBC Past and PBC Past on 27th December 1981 at the same venue. The proceeds of this match, together with generous donations received from Past Pupils, produced a fund that greatly exceeded the target set, and the gift was gratefully acknowledged by the Barrett family.
At the Presentation College Union Annual Dinner in December 1981 our President was presented with a gavel on a suitably inscribed strand to mark the Golden Jubilee of our Union.
In these five decades the Union Officers and Committees were pleased to have known and worked with a succession of worthy principals namely; Rev. Brothers J.X. O'Hanlon, J.D. Fitzpatrick, A.C. Maher, J.E. Nolan, K.C. Meers, J.I. Clarke, J.W. Gibson, M.A. McGrath, J.L. O'Reilly, J.V. Hutton, and M.D. James.