Centenary Celebrations!
The Imokilly People, our local News and Advertiser very kindly dedicated an eight-page supplement on Thursday, August 22nd last to our Centenary Celebrations. The headline reads, '100 Years Celebrated in Style at Clonpriest national School as Centenary is feted with action planned weekend'. This very appropriate memento captures the highlights of a memorable weekend.
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All roads lead to .... All is ready. Failte ar ais.   Altar ready
On Friday afternoon post pupils, male and female enjoyed the Centenary Golf Outing at Waterock. At 7pm, approx 500 people assembled for open air Mass in the school grounds where Fr. Bluitt was chief concelebrant assisted by Fr. Donal O'Brien PA, a past pupil, who preached the homily, Dean Thornhill, Fr. Bermingharn, (a nephew of Eoghan Bermingham who was Principal from 1938-1974), Fr. Coakley, Fr. Slattery, Fr. Ross and Fr. Murphy.

After Mass came the launch by Dean Thornhill P.P. of the 266 page book in which articles, photos, poems and other relevant snippets are delightfully presented. Willie O'Mahony who chaired the Book Committee presented copies to the Dean and to ECAD personnel who had given financial support. Guest speakers included the Assistant Chief Inspector from the Department of Education and Science, Sean 0'Floinn who commended all involved in the education provided at the school during the last 100 years and conveyed the good wishes of the Minister. It was then time to reminisce at gortroe Hall where the local I.C.A. fed the multitude very professionally. This was followed by a session of music and dance with past pupils Art & Shane Supple in great musical form.
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Mr.Motherway at book launch. Dean launches book.   Plaque unveiled  
The Saturday afternoon formalities included the unveiling by Catherine Dineen (a retired teacher who served our Community well for forty years) of the Centenary Stone. This was followed by the planting of the Centenary Tree by a past pupil Eileen Cooney - the tree was sponsored by the Youghal Association in London. Then it was time to visit the school, see what is new, remember what is old, and browse through school registers and the photographic exhibition specially mounted for the occasion.
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Eileen Cooney, Youghal, London. Willie O'Mahony & Canon Thornhill. Tom Galvin - 1831 Mrs. Dineen unveils plaque. Presentation by Mrs. Vaughan
On Saturday night the venue was the Walter Raleigh Hotel Yoighal, where up to 400 patrons enjoyed the excellent dinner, dancing and top-class cabaret which featured yet another past pupil Liam Gleeson of Ardmore. Back to Gortroe again on Sunday for a Remembrance Service for deceased past-pupils and staff. The crowd which participated far exceeded expectations as the assembled congregation led by Fr. Bluitt and the &ortroe Church Choir remembered their dead. Next on the agenda was the unveiling of the original Clonpriest National School's Stone. The honours went to Tom Flavin a post-pupil, a parent of pupils, an active member of the Centenary Committee and a nephew of Brigid Flavin whose life was spent teaching in the school.
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  Dinner Cabaret. 14.jpg (24520 bytes)    
For the remainder of the afternoon hundreds of post-pupils filed through the school, enjoyed a cuppa, organised by the Parents Association and seemed happy to have experienced the events of the weekend.

At the closing ceremony, Ita Vaughan (formally O'Neill from Clonard) the most senior past-pupil, hail and hearty in her mid nineties, presented the school on behalf of all past-pupils with a Tidal Clock which will remain in situ as a reminder of a well organised and well received Centenary Weekend at Clonpriest N.S. Thanks to the organising Committee who were Fr. Bluitt, Jim Griffin, Catherine Dineen, Bridie O'Mahony, Helen Cunningham, Billy Cashman, Fidelma Coleman, Richard McCarthy, Marian Mariga, Mary Lynch, Michael McCarthy, Willie O'Mahony, David Gleeson, Tom Flavin and Finbarr Motherway.

The Committee has received many messages of congratulations on the production of the book and on the success of the weekend's events. The sad news is that all copies of the book have been sold. The good news is that a '6 hour twin pack video' covering all the events is available for purchase from Willie O'Mahorty at (024) 93132.