Such was the enthusiasm for a planned school reunion in Rathcormac when it was mooted, that it has now turned into a weekend affair and will also double as a Gathering event.

With pupils having moved into their brand new school in Rathcormac last April, it was felt it was a fitting year in which to commemorate the old school and its many former pupils. Built in 1948, there’s a huge number of past pupils to draw on from its 65 years history.

The committee set up to organise the reunion has dispatched over a thousand letters to former pupils, informing them of the event and inviting them along on the weekend of September 13th. They are also relying on word-of-mouth to reach others they were unable to contact by letter as well as Facebook which is being used to spread the word.

The planned events begin with a special concert in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Rathcormac on the Friday night. The Bel Canto choir from Mitchelstown will take part along with the Castlelyons Gospel Choir, the Rathcormac Folk Group and the Barbershop Quartet. Singer and past pupil Mary Hazelwood will also feature.

The concert will be followed on the Saturday night, September 14th by a meal in the Corrin Event Centre. Tickets for the meal can be had from committee members Sean O’Riordan 087 9000200, school principal Margaret Howard 086 1966267, Jane O’Driscoll 086 6017219 and Helen Sheehan 087 6427538, while the person to ring for concert tickets is Ronnie Dorgan on 086 1699318.

HISTORY TOUR

A local history tour is being organised also for the Saturday, hosted by local historian Tom Barry. There’ll be street theatre and a ‘Reeling in the Years’ photographic exhibition and art exhibition by local artists in the new school. They’ll be open to visitors from 3pm on Saturday and 4pm on the Sunday. Anyone who has old photographs of bygone school days they would like to add to the exhibition, is asked to contact any member of the committee.

A special reunion Mass will be held in the church on the Sunday at 2pm, followed by a family fun day on the village green featuring all the usual activities for all ages, as well as music from the Fermoy Concert Band, the Comhaltas group and musician Mike Hayes.

Spouses, partners and friends of former pupils are invited to attend the dinner and, as it’s also doubling as a Gathering event, all are invited to go along to enjoy the various events in Rathcormac over that weekend.