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In March 2005 I contacted three class mates, Brian Hassett, John O'Leary
and John Rackard to help in organising our 25th year reunion planned for
September 24th 2005 in the Ferrrycarrig Hotel. The most challenging aspect was finding the whereabouts of our classmates. Our starting point was hand written index cards from the office with four digit telephone numbers and addresses which were applicable in 1980. Yes it is hard to believe that computers which we rely on so much now were non-existent as recently as twenty five years ago! . Although only 73 sat the Leaving Cert. in 1980, 126 students had some connection with our groups during the previous five years and we set out in earnest to track them down. After two months of hard detective work we had managed to locate most of the group. We regret that there were a small number of students with whom we couldn't make contact. We are sorry about this but but be assured it was not due to any lack of effort on our part. The vast majority of classmates were living in various parts of Ireland. The remainder were in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Norway, Luxemburg including one who was a Buddhist monk in a meditation centre in Australia. . 58 classmates were to attend the reunion with some travelling considerable distances to be with us - from various parts of the U.K., Luxemburg and in one case from Chicago via a business meeting in Beijing to St. Peter's. . The St. Peter's College we were coming back to was very different to the one we left in 1980 - the boarding school which for a lot of us was our home from home for five years has been closed down, ecclesiastical students (who?, what?) are no where to be seen, the "far side" is now the Wexford campus of Carlow I.T., the priest's corridor on the top floor of St. lbars is now converted into classrooms, the dorms are locked up, no clergy are on the staff, the vegetable garden, the tennis courts, the "pit" and the slaughter house are all gone. . On Saturday 24th, as we gathered outside the Tower door at 6:30pm it was for many the first time they had been in St. Peter's college since they walked down the avenue on the last day of the Leaving Cert. exam. Everyone I think felt somewhat apprehensive - would they be remembered, would they be able to put names on the faces. Some made a very good effort to conceal their identities with a bit of extra girth, receding hair lines, baldness, grey highlights, laser eye surgery but they were quickly identified. After a few minutes together, it was as if the 25 years had been 25 minutes. . Mr. Pat Quigley, the principal of the secondary school and Mr. Jack Hennessy, President of the Past Pupils Union joined us for mass in the college Chapel. Fr. James Murphy, a member of our class, celebrated Mass during which we prayed for three deceased class mates and members of staff. After Mass, Pat Quigley brought us on a tour of the college. For many of those present, this was one of the highlights as they were once again walking in the hallowed corridors - the TV hall(s), table tennis room (hall 6), John V Gahan's shop, St Peter's dorm (Pugin room), Sr. Mercedes' dispensary, the staffroom (T.Y hall) and the ref. Many were shocked at the state of disrepair of the Tower block. This front facade is the St. Peter's College that past pupils remember and the secondary school authorities should do all in their power to gain ownership of it and in time, refurbish it. . As we walked through the rest of the college, some lads sat in 'their' desks in various classrooms and stools in science labs. We were very impressed with the Power Park sports complex and the new extension. . All then made their way to the Táin room in the Ferrycarrig Hotel where we had a beautiful meal and a private bar. From then on it was mighty craic with the incessant buzz of conversation and laughter as we recalled and reminisced over our five years in St Peter's. I think it is fair to say that it was a very enjoyable night for all. Resolutions were made that we wouldn't leave it as long again and I am looking forward to a repeat performance in 2010. 
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