Difficult and all as it was to admit, 2008 ushered in the 25th anniversary of the class of ‘83. Prompted, as ever, by our intrepid head girl, C. A. Dooley, a committee was formed to organise the celebrations. It was comprised of the usual suspects, who had worked on the 10th and 20th anniversaries respectively. ( Some people don’t get out much.)

Several sessions, I mean meetings, in The Shelbourne later, everything was set up for the 29th of November, in the St. Stephen’s Green Club, no less! The mailing list was divided up and we set about contacting the year group, which by now is scattered around the four corners of the earth!

We were lucky enough to be able to organise a pre “do” tour of the school as Triona Barrett, the current principal, kindly agreed to show us around. This was really enjoyable. It was brilliantly nostalgic to step into Loreto College again-a trip down memory lane, even though the original “lane” is gone! The highlight of the tour, for me, was the reaction of the boarders when they were shown where their dorms used to be. Although currently in use as classrooms, the girls were still able to point out who slept where. I could almost swear we heard the suppressed giggles from clandestine midnight feasts of long ago; the snores of some of the more robust boarders; even the odd whimper from the homesick. We day pupils went “green” with envy when we saw the facilities enjoyed by the girls today. No draughty Plunkett House for them, with its roofless toilets, oh no! You won’t find them running around the basketball courts, gym skirts flying in the wind, overlooked by the hormonal chaps of C.U.S., hanging out their windows! ( Was that even legal?) Nowadays they retire to the gymnasium for their physically educational pursuits! Ah…..sigh…. the youth of today….wasn’t like that when we were young. ( Did you ever think you’d end up sounding like your mother?)

Anyway, off we headed across the Green to the club where a champagne reception awaited us. From this point on, the details are less clear! But those present were treated to a continuous loop of pictures from our time in school. We were given name badges with original school photos. And we were served some delightful food!

The craic was ninety. It was great to catch up. I think the prize for coming the longest way went to Elizabeth Keating who flew in from Chicago for the night! We raised a toast to absent friends and remembered, sadly and fondly, those who are no longer with us,  Catherine Randles and Louise Trench R.I.P.

For those who couldn’t make it that night, don’t worry, the 30th will be coming up soon.( Oh God) And to those of you from other years who haven’t yet had a reunion, my advice is…..do. It is an unmissable opportunity to reconnect with, what were, in the words of Bryan Adams, “the best days of our lives”.

Sheila Cotter, Class of ’83

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