KILMORE DIOCESAN PASTORAL CENTRE LAUNCHES “BACK TO THE OLD ST. PAT’S” FUNDRAISING EVENT 2018
KILMORE DIOCESAN PASTORAL CENTRE LAUNCHES “BACK TO THE OLD ST. PAT’S” FUNDRAISING EVENT 2018 –
Seán Gallagher, the well-known entrepreneur, columnist and speaker, launched a fundraising event for the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Cavan at a special event in the Centre last Thursday evening in the presence of former presidents, principals,staff and students of the old St. Patrick’s College, local public representatives and other guests.
The event, called “Back to the Old St. Pat’s”, will take place in the grounds of the Centre on Sunday 6 May 2018 and it is hoped that as many former students who attended St. Patrick’s College when it was based in the iconic Hague Building will attend, many of whom came from counties Cavan, Leitrim and Meath and further afield.
The proceeds from the reunion Event will go specifically towards the ongoing maintenance of the building itself which housed the former St. Patrick’s College and is now the home of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre and also the development of pastoral initiatives in the diocese.
The event began with a reception in the Drumlane Room and concluded with the launch of a special Facebook page, “Back to the Old St. Pat’s” for next year’s reunion.
Bishop Leo O’Reilly as patron of the Centre spoke about the contribution which the building has made down through the years as a centre of education and its latter-day transformation into the Diocesan Pastoral Centre. He expressed the hope that next May’s event would be well supported and raised much-needed funds for the appeal.
Fr. Ultan McGoohan, Diocesan Director of Pastoral Services and Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre outlined the range of work and activity currently being carried out in the building.
In his wide-ranging and engaging address, Seán Gallagher spoke about the positive influences of his time studying in the building in the late 1970’s and shared some lasting memories of his time as a student in the building. He stressed the need for maintaining the iconic building as a lasting legacy and commented favourably on the transformation of the building into a pastoral centre to serve the diocese of Kilmore in the challenging years that lie ahead from where appropriate pastoral initiatives and resources will be developed to meet the ever-changing needs of the local church.
At the end of the evening, Eddie Coleman, Vice-Chair of the Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, presented with a unique hand-made pen, fashioned by Richard Daly of Irish Pens in Ballinagh, out of oak from a snooker table on which students from the old college played down through the years.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening was the Director of the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Seán Coll, who also paid tribute to a former member of the old College and Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Fr. Ray Brady, who died unexpectedly the previous Friday.
Further information on next May’s event may be obtained from the Centre on 049 4375004. Updates on arrangements etc will be published in due course on www.kilmoredpc.ie, on the Centre’s Facebook and Twitter social media profiles, on the special Facebook profile which was launched on the night, “Back to the Old St. Pat’s 2018”; through parish newsletters and through local media outlets. It is also planned to develop a strategy to ensure that the diaspora of former students abroad will be informed of the reunion event.
Bishop Leo O’Reilly addresses those gathered at the launch event. Seated at the top table from left to right are Seán Coll, Director of the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre; Seán Gallagher; and Fr. Ultan McGoohan, Diocesan Director of Pastoral Services and Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre
Fr. Ultan McGoohan, Diocesan Director of Pastoral Services and Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, addresses the invited guests.
Seán Gallagher shares memories of his time in the old St. Pat’s
Eddie Coleman, Vice-Chair of the Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, presents Seán Gallagher with a unique gift, watched by Seán Coll, Director of the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre; Bishop Leo O’Reilly; and Fr. Ultan McGoohan, Diocesan Director of Pastoral Services and Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre
From left to right: Patsy Lee (former College Principal); Fr. John Gilhooly, PP Mullagh (Chair of the current Board of Management of St. Patrick’s College); Fr. Gerard Alwill, PP Derrylin (former College President); Jack Brennan (former teacher); Seán Gallagher; Bishop Leo O’Reilly; Fr. John Murphy (former teacher); and Ray Dunne (former Careers Guidance Officer)
Seated from left to right: Fr. Ultan McGoohan, Diocesan Director of Pastoral Services and Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre; Judge Cormac Dunne (President of the St. Patrick’s College Past Pupils’ Union); Seán Gallagher; Bishop Leo O’Reilly; and Eddie Coleman, Vice-Chair of the Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre. Standing from left to right: Terry Argue (Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre and Fundraising Committee); Patsy Lee (former College Principal); Fr. Gerard Alwill, Fr. Gerard Alwill, PP Derrylin (former College President); Jack Brennan (former teacher); Senator Diarmuid Wilson; Bernard O’Reilly, Cork (former student); Cathal Brady (Fundraising Committee); Francie McNally (Fundraising Committee), Fr. John Murphy (former teacher); Cllr. John Paul Feely (Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre), Angela Flynn (Board of Management of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre); and Seán Coll (Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre)
Members of the Fundraising Committee pictured with Bishop Leo O’Reilly, Seán Gallagher and Fr. Ultan McGoohan
Standing (left to right): Eddie Coleman, Francie McNally, Terry Argue, Seán Coll, Cathal Brady.
Missing from photo: George Crowe