End of an Era at St Jarlath’s

WHEN I was a second year I was asked to write for the first edition of Novum, after writing a page long article on â€Å“the changes this yearâ€Â, I didnâ€â„¢t have the courage to enter it into the magazine. I was afraid of being laughed at by my superiors in the school. Big mistake, a wasted opportunity. In my opinion it would be a shame to leave here without a letter of farewell. After the opportunities this place has provided for me over the past five years I owe it a thank you note. Hereâ€â„¢s a shot at doing it justice. My story begins as I walk through the glass corridor at 8:15am on August 27, 2008. Wow, the place was huge. Needless to say the first and only morning that I was 45 minutes early for school. The first of the college personnel I was to encounter was the man himself, to whom I made the mistake of saying â€Å“Yes sirâ€Â on first meeting. Turning around and noticing the white collar, I was quickly corrected. â€Å“Yes father.â€Â â€Å“Are you a first year? Take a seat inside in the lunch room.â€Â[private] From there I developed a deep respect for the now Canon Kilcoyne and in the years that followed I found that not only could I maintain the greatest respect for the man, but could also talk to him as a friend when the need would arise. The first day exploring St Jarlathâ€â„¢s, although coming to an end at 1 oâ€â„¢clock, was a very long day. After meeting Fr Kilcoyne, I along with my 96 new classmates went on to encounter some of the people who will always remain in our memories as the people who made Jarlathâ€â„¢s, Jarlathâ€â„¢s. Our Irish teacher Ms Bríd Cannon, now deputy principal, the one and only Sir John B McLoughlin, the former deputy Charlie Kelly. There are so many to mention that it could take up a full page and I donâ€â„¢t think that Mary and Dolores would like that very much. All of our teachers would shortly become much more. Educational advisers of course, football coaches, and above all, close but professional friends. Throughout my first year there were a few discoveries to be made. 2008 was the last year of the forbidden dormitories upstairs in the old wing. Even going up the stairs at the front door of the school was forbidden. I, along with two of my more mischievous friends, wanted to see what the fuss was about, so Iâ€â„¢m almost proud to confess, one Monday morning before the school became inhabited for the day, we decided to discover the new world for all first years and ended up wandering to the first floor of the old wing. Paint peeling off the walls, doors barely hanging, we travelled back in time to witness the life of a St Jarlathâ€â„¢s boarder (although the dorms were in much better shape in those days). We walked through one dorm, lined with tiny cubicles containing just a bed and an open wardrobe. A line of wash hand basins and mirrors at each end of the dorm. This was where boys became men, thinking back on it, it was a somewhat thrilling experience for us as first years to see this part of the school, understanding the history that goes with it. We still ate as the boarders did, Pat the chef to whom our stomachs warmed graciously, would prepare dinner every day for about 200 students who chose to eat in the ref, served up on huge trays by the monitors. The following year the amalgamation brought about a lot of changes. Pat the chef was no more. The caterers were brought in to cope with the extra students and the dormitories that we had explored became state of the art classrooms. With that I was glad that I had gotten the opportunity to see them a year previous to their conversion. That was also the last year for Sir John B McLoughlinâ€â„¢s legion-run sweetshop in the little room beside the study hall. These are just a few images of the old Jarlathâ€â„¢s that in my opinion need to be remembered. We won the first year Connacht league and championship that year, although this was no big deal then. The day before the championship final quoting from John Slattery, our manager and PE teacher â€Å“I donâ€â„¢t mean to put pressure on ye now lads but Jarlathâ€â„¢s have never actually lost a first year championship finalâ€Â. We continued the tradition, beating Headford in the final. There were so many memories, this was the year we would make our friends, discover our individuality and claim our territory at St Jarlathâ€â„¢s College. First year enabled us to hold on to some of â€Å“the old Jarlathâ€â„¢sâ€Â. The following year would bring about an event that would change the school as it was known for 209 years. The rivalry with St Patrickâ€â„¢s was no more, we became the one. Not only were traditions merged, but mutual agreements were met. The uniform emerged. We had feared it the previous year but the Mercy and Pres girls did seem to love the educated look of the blazer. As the bell rang at 9:10am on the first day back that September, the unthinkable had occurred as Patâ€â„¢s mixed with Jarlathâ€â„¢s, Jarlathâ€â„¢s with Patâ€â„¢s. The corridors were chaotic for the first while but once the new classrooms were finished this issue was resolved. The amalgamation appeared to have been a success, the uniform had certainly been a success, it was the forthcoming year or two that would provide the proof. My time over the following four years was not much different from any other students Iâ€â„¢m sure, the college quickly became what it is today. However, as my final year approached I began to realise that while a lot of my fellow students only wanted to get out, I wanted to hold on to the place. Yes of course I wanted to move on, but I didnâ€â„¢t intend to leave without a few memories. In my final year I was granted numerous opportunities to enjoy the remainder of my time. While typing this next sentence I typed, deleted and re-typed a number of times. The truth is, I canâ€â„¢t describe how I felt the day I was offered a monitor badge. For me it was the highest honour I could be offered as a student of St Jarlathâ€â„¢s and I will be forever grateful for being granted that opportunity. The following December I got a chance to take part in the opera one last time. Having no previous experience in theatre other than taking part in the chorus in 2011, made it even more exciting, although extremely nerve-racking. The fame lasted three nights and a few local newspaper articles later it was soon forgotten, but my memories of Oliver 2012 I will cherish for years to come. From then on I was on the downhill stretch, with the exams rapidly approaching I tried to make the most of my remaining time in St Jarlathâ€â„¢s while not neglecting the main priority of study. Three weeks ago I decided to write this article. While speaking with Fr Kilcoyne in the ref one lunchtime, he told me a few stories about the history of the college. We also spoke about the changes over the last five years and I mentioned how I had been feeling sentimental about the place recently. We both agreed that it would be a terrible shame to let the history be forgotten, and thatâ€â„¢s when I decided to write. Of course St Jarlathâ€â„¢s College has changed several times in several ways over the last 213 years. There are written accounts of the story from the very beginning. Iâ€â„¢m giving a short account of the changes in my time because I want these five years to be remembered. After all they have been possibly five of the most influential years in the history of the college â€â€ the amalgamation coming first, and in the last three weeks another shocking announcement. This is the last month that a priest will preside over St Jarlathâ€â„¢s College. It would be difficult for me to imagine anyone else behind the presidentâ€â„¢s desk during my time here. Our year leaves the college as the first fully amalgamated year, yes Archbishop, it is accomplished. Thanks to the resigning Canon Brendan Kilcoyne and his exceptional team of teachers who made it all possible. While enormous changes have taken place, they will undoubtedly continue in the future. I have not written this article to be a teacherâ€â„¢s pet, nor to gain credit. That is irrelevant to me now. I am leaving. I write this because I mean every word. I will always be grateful for the opportunities I have been granted, the friends I have met and the memories that I will surely hold dearly for as long as they remain in my consciousness. As I set the pendulum swinging in the woodwork room for the last time as a student of St Jarlathâ€â„¢s College, I realise that my time now begins elsewhere. â€â€ Oisin Foye[/private]