175 years of education at CBS New Ross is celebrated

Months of preparation led by a committee chaired by Jim Walsh delivered a very exciting and inclusive set of events and activities with the aim of the celebrations being to remember all the great achievements of the school and to include all of the education partners in the events.

The Christian Brothers arrived in New Ross in September 1849 and it was fitting to open the celebrations with a mass celebrated by Bishop Ger Nash in St. Mary's and Michael's Parish Church. The school choir was led by Josephine Oakley. Readings and prayers and reflections were thoughtfully chosen by Roseanne Sinnott. All the stakeholders in the school, including parents and the Board of Management and extended family members were in attendance.

Later that evening the school doors were opened to all friends of the school, particularly former students and teachers. This Open Evening provided a welcome opportunity for people to walk down the familiar corridor of the main building and venture through the wonderful new buildings.

A photographic exhibition was compiled by Margaret Rowe and Susan Sinnott. Photographs from the 1920s to 2024 were on display as well as many awards and roll books. These photographs transferred to the gala dinner in the Brandon House Hotel.

Barry Fitzpatrick, Deputy Principal, spoke to the assembled visitors and outlined some of the reasons why CBS Secondary New Ross is so special. Musical performances followed by the Head of School Jesse McGrath and his class mates Covenant, Abbie and Grace showcased some of the talent in the school. A lot of connections and re-connections were made during the evening.

Monday September 30, saw a novel, all-inclusive activity in the CBS Park. This was a New Ross interpretation of the famous and historic Tailteann Games. The organising committee of John Deely, Colm Browne, Eleanor Tighe and John Halligan chose activities which mirrored some of the events from long ago. Horse shoe throwing, tug of war, 600 metres run and long puck, together with novelty events such as slow-bicycle race, horse and jockey and penalty shoot out. Transition Year students organised, ran and mentored the class groups. With the overall theme of the day being participation and enjoyment there was something for everyone.

On Tuesday, October 1, the entire Transition Year cohort of students travelled to Westcourt Callan, where Blessed Edmund Rice was born. This was organised by teachers Joe Bridges, Aoife Codd, Jim Kavanagh and Roseanne Sinnott. Then on Thursday, a statue of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, the Christian Brothers founder, was unveiled in the school grounds by the two youngest students in the school Jason Roche and Ilomusa Tshuma, together with Heads of School Niamh Doyle Maher and Jesse McGrath. The statue was gifted from Synge Street CBS through the generosity of Brother Dermot Ambrose. Monsignor Joe McGrath blessed the statue in a ceremony witnessed by the whole school community.

On Friday night present and past students, including the well-known Nomads and Shanbogh Folk, who were making their second appearance in fifty years, entertained a full house at St. Michael's Theatre to a most enjoyable concert. Tributes were paid to Josephine Oakley for nurturing and developing the talent on display. Pat Rossiter, ex-principal and student at the school compered the show in his own inimitable style and thanked all the acts who gave so generously of their time. Tomas Kavanagh, Kate Doyle, Claire Wilson, Erica Owens and John Deely ensured a polished professional show.

Jim Sutton, local historian, gave a well presented and research talk on New Ross as it would have been in 1849. The current students took to the stage and put on a mesmerising performance with the audience begging for more. The second half was as entertaining as any collection of performers the theatre has seen. Shanbogh Folk had a standing ovation. Jack Stacey, Tom Walsh, Mary Gorey and Larry Kirwan showed why they have a thoroughly well-earned reputation for harmony.

Brother and sister, Jack and Jenny Ryan played like consummate professionals with the sweetest voices. Dakota Venn-Keane, one of the rising stars in the south east, entertained with a selection of his own songs. Fionn Murphy, world champion drummer, performed incredible feats on his drum. Lizzie Heffernan and Sean O'Brien, stalwarts of local theatre, brought the house down with their rendition of The Book of Mormon number You and Me (But Mostly Me).

The Nomads took the stage for the final hour and captivated the audience in their own inimitable way. David O'Brien, Tomas Kavanagh, Dermot Kehoe and Sean Connick had just returned from San Francisco and regaled the crown with stories and song. The night concluded with the entire company and audience joining in a masterful version of Hey Jude.

Finally the week ended with a capacity gathering of former past students in the Brandon House Hotel on Saturday night for a Gala Dinner, where students who hadn't met in decades were delighted to catch up with friends. Principal Sarah Rice welcomed the guests and introduced the speakers. Brother David Gibson, European Province Leader was present and gave an excellent and well-received address.

The chairman of the 175th committee thanked everyone for their support and paid tribute to the brothers for their selfless contribution to many Irish generations of boys by providing education and enhancing opportunities in life, through difficult economic times in Ireland. Many former students echoed these sentiments. It was also accepted that not everyone's school experience was positive. A point recognised and acknowledged by Brother Gibson.

Jim Walsh also thanked the members of the organising committee for their work over the past two years in putting together and implementing a challenging programme of events to appropriately celebrate 175 years of Christian Brothers education in New Ross. Margaret Rowe, John Deely, Shane Curran, Susan Synnott, Pat Rossiter and Tomas Kavanagh had successfully delivered a fitting series of events, which involved every section of the school community.

In the coming months, a book celebrating 175 years of Christian Brother education in New Ross will be published.