Past pupils revived

RTE’s Lorcan Murray, past pupil of Crescent College Comprehensive SJ, was Master of Ceremonies at the Sacred Heart College SJ and Crescent Past Pupils Union celebration dinner in the college on Saturday 6 March, 2010. It was an evening of celebration and thanksgiving for the sesquicentenary year, which is now closed. The occasion also marked the launch of the Union website (www.crescentpast.com) by the acting President, Ms Helen Kelly-Holmes. The Headmaster, Mr. Nicky Cuddihy, toasted the Jesuit community, where he acknowledged the huge debt owed by both colleges to the order in general and to the community in particular. Pictured here, left to right, are former headmasters Dermot Cowhey, Pat O’Connell, Todd Morrissey SJ, Liam O’Connell SJ, and Dermot Murray SJ.Mr. Cuddihy reiterated Fr. Nicolas’ statement that ‘We believe in education because we believe in young people’ and it is in that tradition that Crescent continues to educate. The first Headmaster of the Comprehensive, Fr. Todd Morrissey S.J. toasted the staff and students of Crescent and recalled many of the struggles that the college faced over its many years. The evening continued with the late Denis Leonard being entered into the Roll of Honour of the Union and a presentation made to Mr. Tony White who was editor of the recent commemorative book on Crescent. The final event of the evening was a toast to the Crescent community by Ms. Niamh (Hickey) O’Connor, the first female student to graduate from Crescent.

Crescent Past Pupils Union is open to all past pupils and staff from the Sacred Heart College S.J. and Crescent College Comprehensive S.J. and has been reactivated after many years. The union wants to put the great memories everyone has of the old and new Crescent to good use for a number of purposes: providing a network of support and social activities for past pupils and staff; helping to maintain the Jesuit culture of C.C.C. and its links with the national and international Jesuit community; establishing a benevolent fund for past pupils and staff; and honouring the achievements of past pupils and staff. The evening was a resounding success for the fledgling union which hopes that the website will enable many alumni to keep in closer contact with Crescent. The A.G.M. will take place at the college on 21st April at 8.00. All are welcome.