PICTURES: Limerick agri college's class of 1964 hold reunion to mark 60 years

SIXTY one years ago a bunch of bright-eyed and enthusiastic young men headed off to Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry.

After they completed their agri course they all went their separate ways and began their respective careers in farming all around county Limerick and the country.

Half a century passed before they would all meet up again at a reunion on the cusp of Covid on March 7, 2000. They had not met in almost 60 years and now they have caught up twice in four years with a second reunion last month.

The idea of a class gettogether first came about in a conversation between Paddy Walsh, Bilboa and former Limerick IFA president John Dillion at the Cappamore Show in August 2019. Both men had attended Pallaskenry Agricultural College in 1963/64.

The first one went off so well that they decided to arrange a second one. Reunion organisers, Paddy and John, both agreed that the comprehensive detective work carried out for the first event made the task of tracking down the attendees much easier this time around. An invite in the post, the odd house visit and the usual follow up phone calls and texts did the trick.

So eager was one person to meet up they turned up a week early wondering where everyone was!

The day commenced in Pallaskenry chapel with Mass celebrated by the college chaplain, Fr Dan Carroll. Class members of 1963/64 and young students from the college who have sadly passed on since the last reunion were remembered and prayed for.

A class photo followed Mass and then the group headed to the college canteen for refreshments. Principal of Salesian Agricultural College Derek O’Donoghue gave a detailed account of the college farm and how college life has vastly changed.

Some of the student antics of this 1960s group were recalled which drew much laughter in the room and even a confession or two from a guilty conscience 60 years on!

Next was a short tour of the farm and then onto the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare for dinner.

Guest speaker for the afternoon was Professor Gerry Boyle, former director of Teagasc. Professor Boyle visited the college many times during his tenure and gave a well-researched and comprehensive talk that touched on three specific areas: the value of education, transformations in Irish society, economy, and agriculture over the years and finally a comparison of farming practices then and now.

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Paddy and John wished to sincerely thank Derek O’Donoghue and his staff in Pallaskenry for facilitating their reunion, Fr Dan Carrol for the lovely Mass, guest speaker Professor Boyle for his remarks and the Woodlands House Hotel for the meal.

“To everyone who travelled we hope you all enjoyed the day. To those who couldn’t make it on this occasion we hope to meet you all at the next reunion. Finally, we would like to thank Breda for all her work in the background, keeping us organised and on task,” said Paddy and John.

They said the reunion could be summed up by saying, “Old memories recalled, friendships renewed, and a great day enjoyed by everyone”.

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