NEWS OF THE PAST CLASS NOTES
GOLLYMOCKY WHALERS
FILTRACYCLE
Out of the adversity that Covid-19 caused when we were first presented with the illness rose a band of Old Clongownian amateur swimmers, the aptly named ‘Gollymocky Whalers’.
Four OCs who graduated from Clongowes in 2017, Liam Lysaght, Marc Bollée, Harry Jankola & Rory McMahon, are behind a new and novel company called FiltraCycle.
The group, which has now expanded to 23 members, began in May 2020 with a much humbler enrollment. The group’s founding fathers Adam Mac Nulty (OC’88) & Jonathan White (OC’86) explain that it was happenstance that originally got the idea off the ground.
FiltraCycle is an Irish startup that recycles cigarette butts into plastic pellets for use in manufacturing sustainable consumer products. Cigarette butts are the most common item of litter on the planet, and one of the most toxic forms of ocean plastic. FiltraCycle displaces virgin plastics in existing supply chains while recycling toxic waste and keeping it out of the ocean.
Jonathan explained: “Adam and I live around the corner from each other. We were both out exercising one evening during the lockdown and we bumped each other. I mentioned I had been swimming every day to keep sane and break the monotony of the lockdown.” Adam added: “That encounter got me thinking. At the end of May, I sent a WhatsApp to several OCs of our vintage who live in the area to see if they were interested in going for an early morning weekday swim.” The initial response was slow but soon they found their super-recruiter, Maeliosa “Wewa” Power (OC’89):
“The “Early Morning Dippers”, as we were first known, took our first swim on June 1st. Adam and I were joined by Maeliosa “Wewa” Power (OC89). Wewa took some persuading as the water is still pretty cold in June! He was an outstanding recruit as he went on a mission to build up the group. We take a photo every morning (pre-Level 3) as a log – and to confirm attendance. Peer group pressure means you’re afraid to miss a morning or else there will be an inquisition! Within two weeks our crew had grown to 10. We now have 23 participants ranging from the elder lemon, Ambrose O’Sullivan (OC’78), to James Keane and Hugo Mac Nulty of the Class of ’99.”
In the next 5 years, they aim to establish a network of small recycling facilities in urban centres across Europe to process the thousands of tonnes of cigarette waste produced every year. It was their ambition that these facilities will recycle at least 10% of Europe’s cigarette waste by 2025.
Those of you who have attended the school will know that the Gollymocky River holds a special place in the hearts of all students, present and past.
RHETORIC 2020 Former School Captain, Mikey Mina Roynane (OC’20) and Vice Captains, Barry Dooley (OC’20) and Ruairi O’Regan (OC’20) gathered with staff in the 1929 quadrangle in September to present staff with very thoughtful cards and gifts on behalf of Rhetoric 2020. Mr Wallace received a beautiful painting of the College (Mikey’s very talented grandmother being the artist) to mark his retirement. In his speech, Mr Wallace commended the boys of Rhetoric 2020 on being an exceptional group, one that we were all blessed to have with us in Clongowes and a group of fine young men that we will miss.
Mikey Mina Roynane and Mr Wallace
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CLONGOWES LIFE
SUMMER 2021
