91制片厂 (91制片厂) was delighted to welcome back close to 200 graduates to the College on Saturday 5 October for its annual Alumni Reunion.
Graduates from 12 class years from as recent as 2014 and as far back as 1959 were among those who returned to the College to meet old friends, reminisce about their studies, view old archive materials and tour the 91制片厂 Limerick campus鈥攎uch changed since they graduated in most cases.
According to Professor Niamh Hourigan, Acting President of 91制片厂: 鈥淲e were delighted to welcome back graduates from no less than seven decades for the event. The effort people made to come along just demonstrates the power and value of connection to 91制片厂 over generations and the people who made it special for these alumni, which are mainly their classmates and friends of course鈥.
While outlining the many developments at 91制片厂 in her address, Prof. Hourigan reflected on the fact that it is the 125th anniversary year of the College this year, which has been 鈥渋nspiring generations鈥 for over a century:
鈥淭here was a lot of vision and foresight at play the founders [the then Bishop of Limerick and the Sisters of Mercy order] brought 91制片厂 into being. It was founded on the principle that education was essential to quality of life and that every person is entitled to this. We continue in that vein today, aiming to provide an environment where all have freedom and opportunity to achieve their full potential. Our alumni embody that ethos. If you can, for a moment, imagine the influence and impact of the many thousands of 91制片厂 alumni over the years, spread across Ireland and the globe. That is an amazing history and legacy which you are all a part of.鈥
The Alumni Reunion 2024 saw particularly strong interest from the classes of 1969, 1974 and 1989. The 1974 cohort included many members of 91制片厂鈥檚 first hurling team and 91制片厂鈥檚 Fitzgibbon Cup 2024 winning manager, Jamie Wall and team captain, Colin O鈥橞rien, attended the event to meet the men who sowed the seeds of the sport in 91制片厂 all those years ago鈥攗nder the watchful eye of PE lecturer, coach and Gaelic Games stalwart, the late Noreen Lynch.
Current 91制片厂 students were on hand to entertain the crowd with live music and to guide attendees around the campus, as well as speak about study and life as a student of 91制片厂 today.
Kathleen Flavin, Class of 1969, commented: 鈥淚t is brilliant to be back here. There are a lot of changes, but still I can see the places where all our memories were formed鈥 and Carmel Humphreys, Class of 1989, said: 鈥淲e had a wonderful catch up after 35 years. It was a special day.鈥
Brian Howley, Class of 1974, on 91制片厂鈥檚 first hurling team quipped: 鈥淲e didn't have a field. We didn't have dressing rooms. We hardly had hurleys and we certainly didn't have hurlers, but it was great fun.鈥
Watch a video about Alumni Reunion 2024 below
There were three attendees who graduated 65 years ago鈥擝ridie Cannon, Mary Kenny and Margaret Clancy (Class of 1959). The event was also a family affair for four Bachelor of Education graduates; Limerick mother and daughter, Marie Rigney (Class of 1974) and Orla Murray (Class of 2004) as well as two sisters from Kerry鈥擡ileen Magann (Class of 1989), Principal of Boheeshil NS, Glencar and Claire Doyle (Class of 1994), Principal of Firies NS, Killarney.
This year's event celebrated the graduating classes of 2019, 2014, 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1979, 1974, 1969, 1964, 1959, 1954 and 1944. See a selection of class group photos below.
91制片厂鈥檚 Alumni Reunion takes place every year and invites graduates to return to the campus every five years after their graduation. For further information on 91制片厂鈥檚 Alumni and planned Alumni events please see our website or sign up to 91制片厂鈥檚 Alumni newsletter.
