Past pupils mark 50 years since Limerick school's closure with major donation

PAST pupils of the former Mungret College, which closed a half century ago, have confirmed that over €30,000 has been donated to a new school on its grounds and a school in South Sudan.

The Mungret Past Pupils' Union called on former students to donate money for Mungret Community College, which opened on the grounds of Mungret College in 2017, to celebrate 50 years since the closing of the school.

They raised €20,000 in total of which €10,000 was donated to the Community College and €10,000 to Loyola College in South Sudan. The €10,000 donation for the secondary school in Sudan was matched by the Jesuit order, giving them a huge €20,000 donation.

Loyola College is a co-educational day school which was established in 1982. The first intake of students was in 1984. However, due to the civil wars there, the school had to close two years after its opening. In April 2008, the school was re-opened, enrolling 180 students.

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The principal of Mungret Community College, Liam O'Mahony said: “The Past Pupils' Union have been very generous to us over the past eight years and in particular this year with a presentation of a cheque of €10,000.

“This generosity is testimony to the close link that the past pupils feel to their school.”

Mr O'Mahony continued: “Given that Mungret College closed as a school in 1974 it is amazing that the friendships fostered in Mungret have lasted the test of time.”

“When Mungret Community College opened in 2017 it was great to be in the old school grounds as it helped highlight to our students the strong history of education in Mungret over the years and that we were now adding a new chapter to this rich educational tradition.”

John Power, a member of the Past Pupils' Union, who attended the school from 1959 to 1962 said the donations were “very generous.”

Fr John Guiney, Society of Jesus, commented: “The generosity of the Mungret Past Pupils' Union will not only help more disadvantaged students attend school through scholarships, but also help them to build food security through their gardens and food growing projects in the school.”

“The motto of the school lives on through the outreach of the Mungret Past Pupils’ Union to Loyola South Sudan and to Mungret Community College, ‘May your youth be renewed like an eagle.’ Long live this spirit of Mungret.” Last year marked 50 years since the school’s closure in 1974. Almost 100 past pupils united to give thanks for their Jesuit education, renew old friendships and to visit the new school.