Pรกdraig Faulkner, T.D., Minister for Education, chatting with pupils after the formal opening of Crescent College Comprehensive in October 1972
8
Introduction
This is not a history of Crescent College. For that
school’s achievements and strengths rather than probe
to have been ready for 2009 planning would have
for shortcomings. This publication is accordingly
been needed five or more years ago. Crescent’s self
more eulogy than exposé. The skeletons will have to
–perception then as now was possibly too modest
await a future historian.
for the school to think that it should commission
The book does not cover all Crescent activity.
a history of itself. It is to be hoped that this jubilee
There are omissions and lacunae. No reference is
will trigger the writing of such a study, because there
made to the school’s contribution in the area of adult
is a good and interesting story to tell. Limerick is a
education. Crescent College Comprehensive belongs
complex place, and the religious, social, cultural and
to that elite band of schools that can boast a Young
educational interaction of the Jesuits, the school and
Scientist of the Year, but there is no treatment in these
Limerick society is a potentially fascinating topic.
pages of its strength in the teaching of science and
This then is a miscellany, not a history, some
mathematics over many years. There is little reference
snapshots of Crescent past and present and some
to debating, an activity which is a characteristic
reflections on the experience of attending school
of Jesuit schools, and which has a long tradition
there. Apart from teachers current and past, all the
and a record of competitive success in Crescent. In
contributors are past pupils. Their span covers the
considering the history of the Jesuits in Limerick only
period from the 1940s to the current decade. It had
fleeting reference is made to nearby Mungret College,
been the intention that the publication should allow
which operated as a boarding school and apostolic
the school to be portrayed ‘warts and all’. Neither
school (minor seminary) for the ninety two years
instructions nor guidance were given to contributors,
from 1882 to 1974.
and in the main they have chosen to celebrate the
Unlike other Jesuit schools Crescent College 9
Comprehensive does not publish an Annual nor does
product or the editorial judgments, but their advice
it have a thriving past pupils union. Accordingly data
and assistance is most gratefully acknowledged.
on its past is elusive. Denis Leonard volunteered for
At Crescent College Comprehensive I wish to
the role of kamikaze pilot when agreeing to write an
thank the Board of Management who commissioned
article on the school’s past pupils. Without a database
the work and, most particularly, the chairman,
any choice of what counts as special achievement has
Richard Leonard, whose wisdom and support has
to have an element of the arbitrary. His suggestion for
been invaluable and unflagging. My thanks also go
a roll of honour is a good one which could be pursued
to headmaster Nicholas Cuddihy, Chris Cullinan,
via the school’s website with a facility for past students
Dudley Herbert, Diarmuid Mullins, Máire Murphy,
to update their own entries.
Sean O’Callaghan and librarian Mary Lynch. A
Denis’ article details the achievements of some
most profound debt of thanks is owed to Dermot
of the school’s more distinguished past. What it
Cowhey, who has been the school’s liaison with the
cannot capture is the significant contribution made
project. Apart from his own written contribution to
locally, nationally and internationally to workplaces,
this publication, he identified potential scribes and
professions and a host of voluntary, religious and civic
provided much of the background information and
activities. The thousands of solid citizens who are and
photographic material. Without him quite simply
have been Crescent alumni and alumnae cannot be
there would have been no book.
acknowledged individually, although they are more representative of what the school has achieved.
Paula Nolan and Tríona McKee at the Messenger Office have been the guiding hands in bringing
In the preparation of this book there are many to
the book to production, with Paula’s design skills
whom I am indebted. For photographic material,
being largely responsible for this being such an
background information and other support I wish
attractive publication. They have been a pleasure
to acknowledge the contribution of Noel Barber SJ,
to work closely with, and their professionalism has
Bevan Cantrell, Des Cross, Marie Cummins, Father
contributed hugely to the quality of the end product.
Martin Daly, David Deighan, Deirbhile de Paor, Joe
I am profoundly grateful to my wife, Marian, and
Donnellan, Jennifer Egan, Brian Flannery, Ronan
my daughters, Barbara and Philippa, for being so
Geary SJ, Noel Harris, Fiona Hurley, John and Terri
tolerant, patient, kind and helpful while the editorial
Hurley, Kelvin Leahy, Denis Leonard, John Leonard,
process overwhelmed various aspects of family life.
Ivan Morris, John O’Brien, Eddie O’Donnell SJ,
Gratitude goes above all to the contributors. For
Daithí Ó Gadhra, David O’Mahony, Don Reddan, Pat
some it came easily, for others the birth pangs were
Rickard, Jim Roche, Monsignor Tom Stack, Brendan
painful. Sincere thanks to each one for their valuable
Staunton SJ and Michael Wallace.
reflection and output. If I am to single out an article,
Damien Burke at the Jesuit archives in Leeson Street
it is that of Father Morrissey, the longest in the book.
was especially helpful, as were Mary Glennon and her
In the past forty years the momentous happening
staff at the library of Milltown Institute. Bruce Bradley
in the life of the school has been the transition
SJ, Patrick Claffey, Jim Corkery SJ, Amanda Dillon,
from Sacred Heart College to Crescent College
Martin Foley, Peter Fuller, John Harty, John Hayden,
Comprehensive. This was a major challenge for
Daniel Maddox, Jim Moran SJ and Marian White read
the Jesuits and particularly Tom Morrissey, who as
some or all of the material and made many helpful
headmaster from 1970 to 1982 led from the front in
comments. They bear no responsibility for the end
this great experiment. At this stage it is fair to judge
10
Bishop Henry Murphy leaves Sacred Heart Church after Pontifical Mass, Centenary Thanksgiving Day, March, 1959
that the grafting of the enormously rich and expansive
was rooted in the Ignatian spirituality of finding
tradition of Jesuit education on the comprehensive
God in the world. Today the Society’s thinkers have
ideal has been a success.
formulated the purpose of the educational enterprise
Many of the contributions here testify to this; there
as one which aims to enable students to become
is an affection and enthusiasm for Crescent College
men and women of competence, conscience and
Comprehensive which, if anything, is even more
compassion.
effusive than what existed at the old Crescent. This
The Jesuits are the largest religious order in the
achievement is something of which Tom and his Jesuit
world. Their growth in this generation however
confreres can feel very proud. Getting there was not
has not been in economically advanced Western
a matter of straight linear progression, as his article
countries. Their numbers are dwindling there. As
testifies. For his input alone this publication will have
Leonard Moloney mentions in his article, the last
to be revisited by any future historian. For his quite
Jesuit vocations from Crescent were Peter Walpole
extraordinary contribution to his old school, we can
and Leonard himself from the class of 1973. Since
only express our profound thanks and admiration.
the time of Pedro Arrupe as General the Society has
Exegi monumentum aere perennius.
increasingly faced the issue of how it can transfer
More than two million students attend Jesuit schools and universities in over seventy countries
its unique and valuable educational tradition to lay hands.
annually. Crescent pupils belong to a culturally rich
This is now the challenge facing Crescent College
and potent international operation and tradition. The
Comprehensive. To date the evidence is that it has
Jesuits have a secure place in the history of Western
been met successfully. It has to be our prayer that the
education. The strength of the method and operation
school will continue to be successful in promoting
of Jesuit education is acknowledged even by those
this rich and powerful tradition among future
who have no sympathy with the Society’s mission and
generations. It is to be hoped that this book will give
apostolate.
some flavour of how that quest has been pursued to
Those of us who were through it were fortunate to be exposed to a system where the quest for quality and excellence was part of the DNA. Ultimately it
date in our city and county of Limerick.
Anthony White August 2009 11
A la récherche du temps perdu Patrick Glynn
I was a Crescent man in every sense of the word.
the college. The decade produced several prominent
I lived in the Crescent across the road from the
rugby internationals, such as Paddy Reid (who was a
church and college for about forty years, and I was in
member of the Grand Slam winning team of 1948),
Crescent College for the years 1941 to 1950 inclusive.
Paddy Berkery and Gordon Wood among others.
When I went to the Crescent I had already done a
During my time I appeared in school productions
year at the Model School, and therefore started in
(not in any kind of a leading role) when Dickie
Bun Rang a Dó, which was also known in those days
Harris and Terry Wogan were also in the cast. I have
as “Rudiments”.
one very funny memory of the school production of
I suppose that we all think that the years when we
Maritana by Vincent Wallace. In those days, Laurel
were at school were the golden years, and anything I
Hill was both a day school and a boarding school, and
have to say therefore cannot be taken as being totally
for some reason we were invited to bring Maritana
objective. I think, however, that the 40s and early 50s
for a performance for the edification of the young
were golden years for a number of reasons. During
lady boarders in Laurel Hill. The hit tune in Maritana
my time at the Crescent there was a marvellous cross-
was a song called “Scenes that are Brightest” which
section of people, from the sporting to the intellectual.
was sung by our leading voice, that of the late Frank
I would think it fair to say that the sporting was the
Lawlor.
most remarkable, as during the late 40s and early 50s
By an extraordinary coincidence or whatever, as
the school won three Munster Senior, and a Munster
Frank Lawlor was just beginning the second verse of
Junior, Schools Cups. This was remarkable in the sense
“Scenes that are Brightest”, suddenly, by accident or
that these achievements were a first in the history of
design, all the lights in Laurel Hill, or certainly the
12
Back Row, L~R: Louis Nestor, Des White, Ivan Harris, Tom Morrissey, Goff Spillane, Tom Hayes, Michael Collins, Jim Roche Seated, L~R: Gerard Power, Michael Fitzgerald, Paddy Berkery, Dermot Moloney, Michael Keane Ground, L~R: Richard Harris, John Leahy
13
ones in the theatre, went out. I need hardly tell you
descendant of the High Kings of Ireland, and I recall
that it was a scene of total confusion, as naturally
the Reverend Malachi Martin, one of a number of
the good nuns were very worried about the safety of
famous brothers; he eventually “leapt over the wall”
their boarders, particularly when you had the likes of
and became an extremely controversial writer on
Harris and Wood and several other similar worthies
the Catholic Church in the United States. I also have
up on stage. The lighting was eventually restored,
fond memories of Father Mortimer Glynn, who was
while the young ladies were safely shepherded into
extremely musical and whose main claim to fame,
some kind of preserved enclosure.
apart from his musical ability, was that he “dry
I had a lot of connections with the Jesuit Church,
smoked cigarettes”.
because being one of the nearest pupils I was always a
I had a quite lengthy connection with the Cecilian
Mass server. I remember that at one time there were
Musical Society during the early years after I left
seven confession boxes in the church, and at Easter
the Crescent; from the Cecilians, Fathers Bates,
and other important times all were occupied and did
Kavanagh and MacMahon all contributed strongly to
very brisk business. I was one of the few pupils who
the musical life of Limerick in the 50s and 60s. I also
had breakfast in the refectory at the Crescent. There
recall Father Oliver O’Brien, who was unwise enough
used to be a Forty Hours devotion at which Mass was
to form a multidenominational choir in Limerick at a
said at 2.00 a.m., and all the mass servers were given
time when it was neither fashionable nor acceptable.
some breakfast before they went home to bed. In the
Naturally, the Jesuit establishment dispatched the
late 1940s this was quite something.
poor man to Australia for his troubles, and Limerick
There was a succession of priests during my term
suffered huge cultural loss. People who are used to the
at the Crescent, and while many of them stand out
wonderful work being done by Father Peter McVerry
I would certainly say that primus inter pares were
and some of his other Jesuit colleagues would scarcely
Father Gerry Guinane and Father Frank Finegan,
understand that this was the John Charles McQuaid
two whom I remember with a lot of affection. Father
era, when anything non-traditional was frowned
Guinane died during my time as President of Old
upon throughout the establishment.
Crescent Rugby Club, but Father Finegan, at the age
I had a great connection with the Crescent apart
of one hundred, is going strong and has still got his
from being at school there, because my late mother
wonderful handwriting.
had a shop around the corner in Hartstonge Street,
Recollections tend to become a bit jumbled, but I
which was the official catering establishment to my
certainly remember during my time at the Crescent
generation of pupils at the College. Going through
that the Jesuits had a Visitor. Anyone who has seen
some papers when she died in 1984, I found a red
the play The Strong are Lonely, or the film The Mission,
exercise book in which she recorded payments
will understand what a Visitor from Rome is entitled
which were due for one and two cigarettes from all
to do; I suppose it would be equated to inspectors
sorts of prominent Crescent pupils, among them
calling to a bank to check on the way that things were
Dickie Harris, Ted Curtin (subsequently a racehorse
done.
trainer), and several others whom I will not presume
I also recollect that the Provincial of the Jesuits in
to mention.
Ireland, at some stage during my involvement with
She also supplied groceries to the Jesuit residence
the Crescent, was the Reverend Charles O’Conor,
during the war. The older among you who read this
the O’Conor Don, who would have been a direct
will remember that this was a time of rationing, but
14
1949-50 Leaving Certificate Class
Back Row, L~R: R. Hurley, T. McRedmond, J. McNamara, M. O’Donnell, F. Coleman Centre Row, L~R: J. Geary, J. Ringrose, B. Gubbins, A. Piggott, T. Creagh, M. Spillane Front Row, L~R: H. Hayes, M. Cunneen, L. O’Callaghan, T. O’Brien, O. Brawn, T. Dundon On Ground, L~R: N. O’Flynn, P. Glynn. Absent: J. Whelan
Winners of Limerick City Senior Schools Cup and Limerick City Juvenile Cup 1943-44 Back Row, L~R: Don Reynolds, David Reynolds (Interpro), N McNeice, M Curtin, J Harris (Interpro), M Curtin, M Quaid Centre Row, L~R: J Healy, S O’Dea, G Keane (Vice Capt), T Manahan (Capt), E Hassett, W O’Neill, D White Front Row, L~R: N O’Neill, B Fitzgerald, M O’Doherty, L Byrne 15
Excursion of Altar Society to Killaloe ~ 1945
Back Row, L~R: T. Curtin, J. Lloyd, P. O’Meara, A. Grant, B. Fitzgerald Third Row, L~R: D. Reynolds, M. Larkin, B. Walsh, F. Moriarty, L. Nestor, J. Leahy, T. Hayes Second Row, L~R: D. Brilly, Rev. Patrick Cusack SJ, P. Berkery, L. McRedmond, P. Doherty, A. O’Halloran, F. Donnellan, D. Moloney, R. O’Connell, G. Murphy, Rev. Richard Brenan SJ, A. O’Leary, Brother James Priest SJ Front Row, L~R: J. Ringrose, T. Lane, J. Flannery, J. McNamara, R. Crowne, J. McNamara
16
my mother always managed to find something in the
residents in the Crescent now, but in my young days
way of tea, or sugar etc., for the Jesuit community. I
the Moloneys, the Corboys and the Tynans lived at
recall her getting a letter at the end of the War from
my side of the Crescent; all has now changed, changed
Father Robert Stevenson, who was the Minister at
utterly.
the time, thanking her for her efforts at keeping the
It is also sad to see the theatre at the Crescent no
Jesuit community alive during that period, when even
longer in use; it was built during my time at the school.
bread was rationed, as well as tea, sugar, butter and a
Apart from the Cecilian Musical Society there was
lot of other food items.
also a flourishing drama group of past pupils, which
I have always felt that there is an extraordinary
produced two very interesting plays about the Jesuits,
love-hate relationship between the Jesuit fathers and
one being The First Legion, an American play, and the
their students. Current and past Jesuit pupils always
other The Strong are Lonely, a German play on which
considered themselves entitled to be extremely critical
the film The Mission was based. I remember Tommy
of the Jesuits but, once any outsider
O’Donnell, Gerry O’Brien (who
tried to do the same, the ranks
was Kate O’Brien’s brother),
were closed and the questioner
Cyril Gallivan, Eoin O’Moore
was summarily dispatched without
and many wonderful actors, a
the necessity of a trial. Somebody
number of whom went on to star
reputedly once commented to
with the College Players, one of
the late William Binchy, who was
the foremost Irish amateur drama
a Barrister at Law and father of
groups during the 50s and 60s.
author Maeve Binchy, “William,
The motto in my days at the
I believe you were educated in
Crescent was Quis Seperabit
Clongowes”. Binchy’s acid reply
Nos (Who will separate us?),
was “Oh no, I went to school at
which is still an excellent motto.
Clongowes and I educated myself ”.
We are difficult to separate.
Nonetheless, I witnessed another
When I was incoming President
occasion when somebody began
of the Law Society one of my
to be critical of the Jesuits in the
duties was to say Grace at the
late William Binchy’s presence. He
Rev. Francis Finegan SJ
annual conference dinner. My
dispatched the party with a rapier-
predecessor and successor in
like thrust, and the critic did not
the office were likewise Jesuit
return to the attack.
day pupils, both from Belvedere. When I got up to
I have not lived in the Crescent since the mid
say Grace, I naturally decided to impress them with
1970s, but because of my professional connections
my knowledge of Latin and declaimed a high table
with Limerick I pass through the Crescent at least
Grace from Oxford. As I was coming down from the
two or three times a week. I find it extremely sad that
podium I heard a voice behind me remark:
the school and the church have both gone; the sight of the church and residence is extremely upsetting personally, as this was a special place which had so many happy memories for me. There are hardly any
“O Lord Jesus, not another one of those bloody Jesuit boys.” I have great memories of being one of those “Bloody Jesuit Boys”. 17
Crescent College in Context: 1858~1971 Matthew Potter
The foundations of the modern education system in
growth of a prosperous farming class. The cities and
Ireland at primary, secondary and tertiary levels were
towns also benefited from the general economic
laid in the nineteenth century, a period which was
upswing, and saw the rise to prominence of a middle
characterised both by Ireland’s absorption into the
class consisting of shopkeepers, and publicans,
United Kingdom (1800-1922) and the development
frequently and derisively known as the ‘shopocracy’.
of an Irish nation in the modern sense of the word,
In turn, the children of this upwardly mobile and
particularly after 1850. Contrary to the traditional
(outside of Ulster) overwhelmingly Catholic rural
view of Irish history, it was also a period of sustained
and urban bourgeoisie formed a new class of Catholic
progress and growing democratisation, which
professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, priests,
resulted in the gradual but continuous empowerment
journalists, teachers, and bureaucrats.
1
of the Irish people.
The emergence of this successful and ambitious Irish
In contrast to the disastrous Famine decade of
rural and urban middle class was a very important
the 1840s, Ireland enjoyed a period of economic
development, as its members posed a challenge to the
prosperity in the succeeding quarter century (1850-
old regime that was to prove more formidable than
75), and participated in the economic boom that swept
O’Connellism. They were to gain significant political
the Western world in these decades. Agricultural
power in the 1880s, when they fought the Land
prices were very good, fuelled by the demand for
War against the old ruling elite, and provided the
Irish produce in an increasingly industrialised British
mass support for Parnell and his Home Rule Party.
economy. The reduction in population had resulted
Essentially this resulted in their becoming the ruling
in a consolidation of agricultural holdings, and the
class of Ireland outside Ulster in the 1880s when they
18
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