Welcome Fellow Clongownians,
Since my last message I attended the Ulster Branch AGM and Golf Outing at Royal County Down Club on Friday, 2nd July. There was a good turn out for the golf outing (approximately 35 OCs) and the Ulster Branch AGM was presided over by Sir John Sheil in the unavoidable absence of Dr. Richard Flood. The golf was won, for the 2nd year in succession, by Andrew Buckley and was organised superbly as always by Tom Coghlan and Robert Walshe.
The Annual Soccer Blitz organised by the Junior Branch for the years 2000 to 2010 took place on Saturday, 24th July and was won by the Class of 2004. It was a fantastic afternoon and I was pleased to witness the huge turnout and the fun and enjoyment, and indeed good football, by all of the participants. Great thanks is due to Barry Stafford, the Chairman of the Clongowes Union Junior Branch Committee and also our Honorary Secretary and his colleagues on the Committee for a superbly organised event.
On Thursday 29th July the Clongowes Union GB Branch held a dinner in honour of St. Ignatius of Loyola SJ at the Irish Club, 2-4 Tudor Street, London EC4Y 0AA. This event, which I also attended, was organised by Damian W. Connolly, Chairman of the Irish Club. There was a great attendance of 30 OCs spread over many generations and it was a most enjoyable evening.
On Friday, 30th July at 4.00pm Fr. Bruce Bradley SJ, Rector of Clongowes, presided over the 2nd gathering of GB alumni and friends at the Mount Street Jesuit Centre in London where I welcomed the guests and made some opening remarks. Fr. Bruce Bradley then spoke and after him Derval Costello of the CWC Foundation. It was a good gathering of old Clongownians and was followed by Mass in the Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception in Farm Street to celebrate the feast St. Ignatius Loyola SJ.
It is of tremendous importance that you, our Union Members, support each of the Union’s activities.
I look forward to your continuing support throughout 2010 and 2011. You should contact me or any member of the Committee if you wish to raise any issues and we would be grateful for, and indeed invite, your suggestions.
Laurence K. Shields
President
A NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY – 2011 ANNUAL DINNER – FRIDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2011 – Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road – Weekend of the 1st Home International (as usual) this time France – details to follow.
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