Past Pupils Union
History
The Christians Brothers College Cork Past Pupils Union, which was founded in 1931. The inaugural meeting was held in the Physics Lab at the College on March 23rd 1931 and was presided over by Rt. Rev. Dean Sexton, who was one of a group of the first pupils in the College when it was opened in 1888.
Dr. Walter Rahilly became the first President of the Union and Br. J.X O'Hanlon, who was principal since 1928 and Dean Sexton were elected Vice Presidents. Ninety years on, there are over 800 globally enrolled members.
Mission Statement
At its first Annual General Meeting in 1931, the aims of the Union were "...to bring together its members, at least once a year, to renew friendships, to keep members in touch with the life and the progress of their school and undertake such activities as shall seem proper to members."
Ninety years on, the PPU is also focused on how we can support the college and its events, using monies for charitable purposes and organise functions
Contact details
The Union is always seeking new members & can be contacted via:
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Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cbc_ppu_cork/),
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Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/cbcppu),
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LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbc-cork-ppu/),
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Email (ppu@cbccork.ie).
Online signup can be easily completed on the following link, https://buy.stripe.com/cN25kF6a34zubzW3cc
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The current PPU President, Shane Kelly, is pictured below receiving the PPU Presidential Chain from outgoing president Keith Green.
CBC Cork PPU Mentorship Programme
The CBC Cork Past Pupils Union (PPU) is delighted to offer a twelve-month career
mentoring programme to members of the CBC PPU. The programme aims to connect
PPU members with experienced professionals who are also alumni of the school. As
this is the first phase of the programme, a limited number of places will be available.
About the Mentoring Scheme
As an experienced professional, the mentor will be assigned a mentee and act in an
advisory capacity, supporting the mentee in areas of their career where
guidance and insight may be beneficial.
Mentoring is a supportive form of development that focuses on helping mentees navigate career decisions,
develop key professional skills and build confidence.
The CBC PPU will provide mentors with a shortlist of applicants from which they will select one mentee. Once
a mentor confirms their preferred mentee, the PPU will arrange an introduction via email.
What are the benefits of the mentoring programme?
The programme provides CBC PPU members with the opportunity to build meaningful
professional relationships that can support both career development and long-term
professional growth.
Having a mentor can provide valuable advice and insights into achieving your
professional ambition and help you determine which skills you need to achieve
your goals. You can receive guidance from an experienced professional who can
listen, advise and support your development.
Who is eligible to apply?
All current CBC PPU members are eligible to apply for this programme via the Google Form below.
How are mentor/mentee matches selected?
Applicants will be required to complete the application below using a Google Form. The information gathered through the application, including work experience, course of study (where applicable) and career aspirations, will be
considered when matching mentors with mentees. A shortlisting process will take
place before final placements are allocated.
What is my role as a mentee?
Participation in the mentoring programme is an opportunity to develop your professional network.
The mentee plays a central role in guiding the mentoring relationship, allowing
them to steer it in a direction that suits their goals. Mentors volunteer their
time alongside their professional commitments; therefore, it is important to ensure
that both your time and theirs are used effectively.
Being part of this programme can help you develop skills in managing professional
relationships, managing your time and ensuring that you achieve the goals you set out initially.
This could include developing confidence, gaining sector knowledge and learning how to source and secure work experience opportunities.
When engaging in the mentoring process, it is important to reflect on your own skills, strengths and development goals.
Examples of characteristics of an effective mentee:
• Honesty
• Willingness to learn
• A focus on personal development
• Openness to challenge
• Flexibility and open-mindedness
• Willing to step outside your comfort zone
• Confidence to ask for advice and share concerns
• Professionalism
• Reflection on experiences and feedback
Furthermore, to make the most of the opportunity and to build an effective mentoring
relationship, it is important to consider the above and the following:
Be proactive: it will be the mentee's responsibility to arrange meetings, understand what
they hope to achieve and keep their mentor informed about how the mentoring
relationship is progressing.
Time management: effective communication is key, so keeping on top of your
email correspondence and message threads etc. and attending meetings on time will help the relationship develop effectively.
How do I communicate with my mentor?
Communication can take place face-to-face or online via Zoom. The form of communication to be
used can be agreed upon ahead of your first meeting.
What is the time commitment?
Mentors are asked to meet with their mentee at least four times during the programme
or two hours per quarter. Meetings may take place either online or in person,
depending on what is most suitable for both participants. To make the most of these
meetings, mentees are encouraged to prepare materials in advance that they would
like mentors to review for example a CV/résumé, career or personal development
plan, etc.
How do I apply?
Completed application forms will be accepted via the link below from Monday
9 March 2026 to Friday 24 April 2026.