Vocational school 50th anniversary reunion planned

IT HAS been half-a-century since a group of 15 students sat their leaving certificate at Carlow Vocational School and now one of their number, Paul O’Mahony, is hoping to reunite the class for a special 50th anniversary gathering in Carlow later this year.

The class of 1976 holds a unique place in the school’s history. They were both the first mixed class and the first leaving certificate class ever to pass through its doors. Paul, who has been living in Germany for the past 40 years, is reaching out to his former classmates, wherever life may have taken them.

“Whether you stayed local or moved across the world,” he says, “your presence would make the celebration complete.” 

Planning of the reunion is still in its early stages and Paul is keen to hear from classmates on matters of dates and venues. The full class roll, in alphabetical order, was: Byrne, Christy; Burroughs, Magdalen (RIP 13/05/2012); Dalton, Gerry; Delaney, Caroline; Devlin, Paul; Duckett, Deirdre; Dunne, Rita; Kenna, Pat; Kinsella, Mick; Lawlor, Elizabeth; Moran, Winifred; O’Mahony, Paul; Ryan, Nuala; Walsh, Sally; Watchorn, Gerard (RIP 20/12/2022).

Anyone who recognises a name, whether their own or a former classmate’s, is encouraged to get in touch with Paul directly. He would also be grateful for any contact details of classmates that readers may be able to pass on.

For more information, contact Paul O’Mahony via email at paul.omahony@gmx.de or on +49 152 0884 2928.