ALEXANDRA COLLEGE DUBLIN
ALUMNAE PRESS
RA CO
LL
ND
A
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E
AL
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ISSUE 1 April 2016
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
President’s message • Principal’s report • Alex 150
dates • Bursaries • Alexandra Business Network •
Music Department Alumnae • Golf Society Dates
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ALUMNAE PRESS
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
It is amazing how quickly my two years as your
President have passed, but this of course is true of any
job one undertakes and enjoys. I must say that working
with all the committee and attending the various social
functions on your behalf has been most enjoyable.
Thank you to all our committee members for their hard
work and enthusiastic input. Invitations are received
from all of the ASU schools, and I was able to attend
and meet many old friends from the past at the Wesley,
Mountjoy, Kings Hospital, St Andrews and High School
evenings, and shortly we will be represented at the
Masonic, St Patrick’s and Kilkenny dinners. We look
forward to returning their hospitality at our anniversary
dinner on May 14th. I would invite all past presidents of
the Alumnae to contact me if they would be interested
in attending the Associations annual dinner in June, at
the National Yacht Club. It is important that we fly the
Alexandra flag at these ASU functions.
I attended the Northern Ireland Branch informal lunch
in Belfast in October. Although the Branch is officially
closed, their loyal supporters continue to enjoy an annual
get together.
Now to the sesquicentennial
year (a good word for a
spelling competition): the
Opening Service in January
in Christ Church Cathedral
was very well attended, and
we were delighted to have
representatives from all parts
of Ireland, from London and
Canada joining us, along with
the current students and staff
of the College. It was very
fitting that Archbishop Jackson
invited the Danish Primate to give the address, reminding
us very strongly of our link with the Danish Princess, later
to be Queen Alexandra of England.
Everybody was ecstatic about the musical evening in
February at the National Concert Hall, and the College
and the Alumnae can be very proud of their return
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to Earlsfort Terrace. I have heard it described as a
stupendous, phenomenal, mind-blowing night, and what
was most encouraging was the variety of age groups that
came to, or took part in, the great musical recognition of
our 150 years. Concertgoers and participants ranged in
ages from 90 to 7 that evening – a great representation
of the breath of the College community. The Alumnae
had a very active and challenging part to play, for many
singers since September last, gathered at the College in
Milltown for weekly rehearsals, and a very special thank
you must go to Sandra Ganly, our conductor, for being so
enthusiastic and such a joy to work with. The Alumnae
choir was fantastic on the night.
All Alumnae should feel encouraged about our future
as a past pupils association as a very high percentage of
our Sixth Year students are signing up as life members
and we are, of course delighted. I believe we should also
be encouraged by the success of the recently launched
alumnae network (ACDWN: Alexandra College Dublin
Women’s Network), currently coordinated by Karen
Pappin, Mary O’Kennedy and Sharon McElligott. It is
important that the students see us as an important support
group for the College. We are keen for our Alumnae
to take a continuing interest in the range of College
activities.
Over the past year we have supported students in the
College in a variety of ways: we have provided financial
support to some students and we contributed to the
sponsorship of the Transition Year Artisan Day in May
2015. We have made a gift to the staff of a Nespresso
machine and some coffee to help them through the
challenges of their busy life as teachers in the College.
This supportive role of the Alumnae is the way forward
for us. Our main source of income is now coming
from the life memberships paid by outgoing Sixth Year
students and, for this reason, our first priority should be
the College.
I would like to congratulate the Principal, staff and
students for the outstanding year that they have had in
many fields: the Leaving and Junior Certificate results
were excellent as you will read in Mrs. Ennis’s report in
ALUMNAE PRESS
this publication, the student numbers are increasing every
year, and particularly in boarding,. The drama productions
were fantastic, but pride of place must go to the senior first
hockey team who won the ‘double’ – the Leinster Cup and
the Leinster League. No other school has achieved this level
of success ever. The First Year hockey team is also the 2016
Leinster League champions and the Senior Seconds reached
the final of the Leinster competition, being narrowly
defeated by Muckross 1-0.
It is such a joy to be able to keep up to date with College
news online. I would encourage all past pupils to log on
to the College website www.alexandracollege.ie regularly
to keep up to date with news and developments. I would
also suggest that you should register on the Alumnae
database. This will enable the College to send you regular
communications and keep you abreast of upcoming events
such as concerts, exhibitions and lectures. Many of you
have already registered but we would like more of you to
do so. It is a simple process involving three steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Log on to www.alexandracollege.ie
On the menu on the top line click on ‘Alumnae’
From the menu that then appears on the left, click
on the tab ‘sign up to Alumnae Newsletter’
Fill out the form and press ‘send’
Following these four steps will open up a whole new
world, and will enable you to reconnect with friends you
may not have seen for some time. It is worthwhile browsing
through the ‘Alumnae’ section of the website, as there are
other opportunities to connect with old Alexandrans from
all over the world. Who knows but you may link up with
old friends you have not seen for a long time and you may
make some new friends and business connections. There is
a whole new world now available to old Alexandrans with
the click of the mouse!
ALEX150
Founded in 1866, Alexandra College has been at the
forefront of education for girls in Ireland for almost
150 years. Given the significant changes in our
society, our workplaces and our education system
over that time it is truly remarkable that an institution
could survive and prosper for so long. And, despite
these changes, the values and beliefs that gave us
impetus and momentum in our early decades are
the same ones that drive us forward today. It is a
firm belief in the natural place of women as equal
partners in all aspects of our society that sets us apart
and makes us different.
Through 150 years of war and peace, boom and
bust, challenge and change Alexandra College has
retained a sense of purpose, a sense of community
and a social conscience that keeps it as relevant
today as it ever was.
And, for us, reaching 150 years in 2016 means two
things. Firstly the need to recognise the achievements
of so many people that have supported the College
and its ideals and made it what it is. Secondly the
need to think ahead and ask what it is we wish to
achieve over the next 10, 20, 50 or 150 years.
For information on the events that have taken place
so far and the events still to come visit the college
website at www.alexandracollege.eu/150-years.
I am delighted to be able to tell you that your new
President-elect is Susan Whelan (nee Keogh). I know that
she will serve the Alumnae very well over the next two
years. Susan is a true Alexandran: she and her two sisters,
Jennifer and Joanna, attended the College in the ‘90s, her
daughters Aisling and Emma are currently students in
the College and her late mother, Margaret Keogh, was a
member of the PE Department. Susan currently chairs the
young and vibrant Bursaries Committee, having previously
been its Treasurer for six years. As well as this, she is a very
active member of Old Alex Hockey Club.
I would like to conclude by extending a special thank
you to the team who put this special anniversary edition
of the Alumnae Press together, Editor Carole Pappin and
her daughter Karen who is responsible for the layout and
graphics, and the contributors for their excellent input. We
plan to have a yearly magazine and if you have an idea for
the next addition we would love to hear from you.
Gladys Ruddock
(President)
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ALUMNAE PRESS
A Word from the Principal
I am delighted to bring you up to
date with news from the College
during this very important year
that marks our 150th anniversary.
As usual, we have been successful
across a wide spectrum, and I will
do my best to give you a flavour of
the breath of this success as well as
an insight into how the College is
developing.
Academic
We were delighted with our Leaving
Certificate results again this year. The
class of 2015 averaged a Leaving
Certificate points tally of 465. 42% of
students received over 500 points,
3% of students received 600 points or
over, 22% of students received 550
points or over, 95% of students
received over 300 points, the national
average. Junior Certificate results
were equally excellent. The summary
that follows illustrates just how well
the girls did this year: 98% of papers
were taken at higher level, 91% of all
papers taken received either an A, B,
or C higher grade, 30% of all papers
taken received a higher A grade, 37%
of all papers taken received a higher
B grade. Three students received 11
A grades, three students received 10
A grades and two students received 9
A grades.
Both sets of grades are a great
testament to the hard work,
commitment and dedication of girls
and staff. They also reflect very
well how the ethos of the College
enables girls to be the very best
that they can be. I know you will
also be impressed to hear that
eight girls from the class of 2015
were awarded scholarships to third
level institutions. Six were awarded
UCD Scholarships as follows:
Melanie McAleese, Emily O’Hanlon,
Rhona Barry, Phoebe Ting, Katie
Walsh and Pia Diepman. Two girls
were awarded Trinity Exhibition
awards: Mollie Barlow and Louisa
Muldowney. These scholarships
were won by students who attained
560 points or more, in the Leaving
Certificate Examinations.
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ALEXANDRA COLLEGE DUBLIN
PRESENTS
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 11TH
4:30-6PM
IN THE HENRIETTA
WHITE CENTRE
This event is open to Alexandra
College students, parents and
alumnae.
with Talks by:
Miriam O’Callaghan
RTE BROADCASTER
Niamh Briggs
CAPTAIN OF THE 6 NATIONS CHAMPION
FEMALE RUGBY TEAM
Isobel Clarke
HIGH COURT JUDGE
Moya Doherty
ENTREPRENEUR AND THE PRODUCER AND
CO-FOUNDER OF RIVERDANCE
Ivana Bacik
DEPUTY LEADER OF SEANAD ÉIREANN
Women in Leadership
The prefects of 2015 brought a new
initiative to the College with the
‘Women in Leadership’ event held
on November 11th. It was really
successful with many local schools
and parents joining us in the HWC
(Henrietta White Centre – our new
building) to listen to TV broadcaster
Miriam O’Callahan, captain of the
Irish Rugby Team Niamh Briggs,
High Court Judge Isobel Kennedy,
producer and chair of RTE Moya
Doherty, and Deputy leader of the
Seanad Ivana Bacik, to speak about
their experiences as women in
leadership roles. We intend to hold
this event annually in November and
if any past pupils know of women
who might like to present at the
event, please let me know. It would
be great, also if past students were to
attend next November.
ALEX150
We decided to brand our 150th
celebrations as Alex150 and so far, we
have had great success with the Year.
The celebrations got off to a very
good start on Thursday 21st January,
in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin,
with our Opening Service of Prayer
and Thanksgiving in commemoration
of the 150th Anniversary of Alexandra
College. We were honoured by
the presence of Bishop Peter
Skov-Jackobsen, the bishop of
Copenhagen, who delivered the main
address. Eva Bangle, chair of the
London branch of the ACD Guild,
delivered a speech about her time
in Earlsfort Terrace in the 60’s. Our
current Head Girl, Julie Ryan talked
to the gathered congregation about
the College as it is today. The choir
sang beautifully. After the Service,
there was a reception held in the
crypt of the Cathedral. On the Friday
morning afterwards, bishop Peter
Skov-Jackobsen hosted a discussion
with the girls of the College. It was
an interactive session between the
bishop and the girls, and the themes
covered were: an Alex education, the
ALUMNAE PRESS
differences between schools in Ireland
and Denmark, the respective merits
of single-sex and co-educational
schools, the place of women in the
Church in Denmark, comparisons
and differences between Danish and
Irish societies, the differences and
similarities between women in public
life in Denmark and Ireland.
It was a very successful event and
allowed the whole senior school
community to engage in a public
dialogue about matters that are of
great importance to the College. Key
points that emerged were:
• Alex girls feel very positively
passionate about their school.
They believe that they get
meaningful opportunities to
develop themselves as human
beings while at school here.
• Danish society seems to
operate a more ‘shared’ life
between the genders than
Ireland does.
• In Denmark, there are more
women involved as priests in
the Church than there are men.
• Women have a more active role
in public life in Denmark than
they do in Ireland.
• Alex students would like to
see more opportunities to
study what have been seen
traditionally as ‘male’ subjects,
such as metalwork and
technical graphics.
It was a wide-ranging and diverse
dialogue, and it was great to see
the willingness with which the girls
got themselves involved in this
experience. We were most grateful
to Bishop Peter for making himself
available to us for this unusual
departure.
On the Saturday evening following
the Service, Hanne Kuhlmann, the
organist attached to the cathedral in
Copenhagen, gave an organ recital in
Christchurch Cathedral.
The celebrations in the National
Concert Hall on February 2nd,
attended by a full house, were
superlative. The mix of drama and
music were commented on in the
many emails and letters I received
subsequent to the concert. One of
the most important things about
the concert, apart from the obvious
celebration of talent in the College,
is that it brought the generations of
the Alexandra College community
together under one roof, and there
was a very positive feeling about
being part of that community on
the evening.
Our next Alex150 event is the
Alumnae Dinner on Saturday 14th
May, and we are looking forward
to this very much.
General School News
Our Senior First hockey team won
the Leinster Hockey league, beating
Loreto Foxrock 1-0, in a very
exciting and challenging final, held
on Tuesday 5th January. The same
hockey team won the Leinster Cup
on Thursday 25th February, beating
St Gerard’s School 4-2. Alexandra
College is the most successful
school in Leinster, having won the
double (cup and league) 13 times.
The Minor A team won the Leinster
plate beating Muckross, while the
Senior 2nd team got through to the
finals of the Leinster Cup.
The soccer teams - first year, minor,
junior and senior, all got through
to the LG quarterfinals. In crosscountry, the girls did extremely well
in the DCU Invitational Competition
- the seniors came third and three
girls qualified for the Leinster
Cross Country Championships.
Lucy Grindle is making her mark
in the Irish swimming world: she
came third in the Ulster Open
Championships 2016.
Emma O’Neill, a past pupil from the
Class ‘83, opened the Hermione Art
exhibition this year. Her inspiring
lecture described some of the
impressive projects she has worked
on during her career in Ireland and
New York.
In March we met with our boarder
mothers for lunch. This was the
second of what we hope will be an
annual event. It is a great way for the
boarder mothers to meet and chat
with the Head of Residence, Mrs.
Ginnelly, the Deputy Principal, Aideen
Corr and myself.
Our Drama Spectacular, during
the last week of the Spring Term
was an exceptional drama event.
The Junior DramSoc performed in
Laura Wade’s modern re-imaging of
Lewis Carroll’s beloved tale Alice.
The Intermediate DramSoc play put
on a production of a brand new
play The Light Burns Blue by Silva
Semerciyan and the senior DramSoc
performed scenes from the play
Shakers by John Godber.
I hope this gives you a good idea of
how things are in the College at the
moment. I would love you to keep
up to date with what is happening on
a regular basis by logging on to the
website and following us on social
media, where Alexandra College
really does have a great presence.
Thank you to the Alumnae President,
Gladys Ruddock, and her team
the Alumnae Committee for their
unstinting support of the College and
the girls, and here’s to more great
success for the rest of the year!
Barbara Ennis
Principal
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ALUMNAE PRESS
London Branch Alexandra College Guild
The Early Years – in Brief
When we were asked to write a
short history of the London Branch
of the Alexandra College Guild
in 200 words, we enthusiastically
took up the challenge – we have
a “brown attaché case” much like
the Chancellor’s Red Budget Box in
Number 11 Downing Street – only
ours has much more enjoyable
contents!
Our attaché case is stuffed full of
minute books and newsletters,
folders dedicated to “outings”,
newspaper clippings, and much
more! We have enjoyed delving into
these records, and discovering who
some of the “old Alexandrans” were
over the years, what meticulous
arrangements were made for events
- Coffee Parties, Tea Parties and
Dinner Parties [Formal and Informal],
the outings arranged and interesting
snippets about the journey prices in
the 1950s!
When we sat down to write our
“potted history”, we had found it
much more challenging to capture
something of interest in the space
allowed – we limited ourselves [for
this publication] to a glimpse into the
first ten years! We hope to continue
with more updates in later editions [if
allowed]!
Reading from one of the early letters
to the members of the London
Branch Alexandra College Guild we
have on file, dated 21st April 1954,
Page 6
the first few sentences read:
“Two years ago the first dinner of
the London Branch of the Alexandra
College Guild was held at Crosby
Hall, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London,
S.W.3. We are now planning to have
another dinner at Crosby Hall on
Monday, May 24th, and hope that
many of the old Alexandrans whom
we have contacted since then will be
with us. We have made arrangements
for a larger number, so that none
remembering the crowd on the first
occasion need worry as to whether
there will be enough room.”
There’s nothing like feeling the
weight of history on the current
Office Bearers…! In this age of social
media, Internet, FaceTime, WhatApp,
Skype, Mobile Phones, tablets and
iPads, personal computers and
telephones, it is interesting to read
through the minutes, newsletters
typed on manual typewriters twice
or three times a year, personally
addressed to individuals, and think of
the time spent collating and putting
these into envelopes, stamps licked
and placed onto envelopes, and
all the updates posted to over 200
members for each letter or newsletter
in the 1950s. Some of the London
Branch AGMs and Coffee- or TeaParties were held in evenings, with a
polite “guide” to note the arrival time
as 7:15 for 7:30 pm start, often on
Thursday or Fridays. I wonder what
distance our ladies travelled. Did
they commute to the meeting directly
from work? What was the size of
London in the 1950s – was it as large
and sprawling then as it is today?
There were outings arranged, “outof-London”, perhaps once or twice
a year too – altogether, the London
Branch Members managed to meet
three or four times a year! RSVPs
in 1950s were by return post or
telephone [land-line] – text messages
and emails were not an option
in those days! Newsletters were
first mentioned in minutes, dated
Saturday, 13th November, 1954,
and these were appreciated by all
London Branch members, some of
whom lived quite a distance out of
London in Nottingham, Surrey, Kent
and Berkshire, and some living even
further afield.
The first recorded minutes in our
files date back to 1953, and we note
speakers attended from Dublin, with
Miss Holloway, Principal of College,
bringing news of College and School,
and news/plans for the new Guild
Home.
Speakers in 1954 included Miss
Holloway, Principal of College,
and Miss Noelle Middleton, an old
Alexandran and “well known to T.V.
viewers”. Miss Middleton was an Irish
Actress who began her career in the
famous Gate Theatre in Dublin, but
was soon appearing in British films
and TV shows.
A tea-party was held for old
Alexandrans in The Abbey School
ALUMNAE PRESS
Penhurst Place, Kent, on May 28th,
and a visit to “Conversazione” at The
Irish Club, 82 Eaton Square, SW1, on
October 21st.
The summer outing of 1961 was
planned to Guinness Brewery at Park
Royal on Saturday, 13th May and the
second summer outing arranged to
Syon House, Isleworth on June 3rd.
Both events were successful.
on Kendrick Road, Reading, on
Saturday, 12th May, 1956 – from
the minutes, dated 26th April
1956, the committee planning the
event noted that a party of London
Branch members would meet at
Platform 2, Paddington Station, to
travel to Reading by train, and the
newsletter to members went on to
note that if more than eight people
were planning to travel by train,
an application for a “party” ticket
could be made by the committee
– third class return tickets would
be available for 8/6d instead of
11/4d. This event marked the first
recorded “out-of-London” summer
event for the London Branch. Was
this the same “The Abbey School” in
Reading that another former Principal
of Alexandra College, Mrs Barbara
Stanley, moved to some years later?
In 1957, the summer outing included
a coach journey from Victoria,
London: old Alexandrans were to
meet at the ABC Restaurant, Wilton
Place, in Victoria at 1:00pm sharp,
with plans to visit Bodium Castle,
Sussex, and view the Guinness Hop
Farm as part of the same outing.
Return to Victoria was expected at
9:00pm! Prices were reduced from
15/- to 13/6d per person to cover
the coach fare and tea – this lower
than expected price was achieved by
booking the 32-seater coach through
a different coach hire company.
The following year, 1958, looked a
busy one for us! Miss Mary Kingsmill-
Jones, an old Alexandran, received a
D.B.E. in the New Year’s Honours. In
a letter to London Branch Members,
dated 28th January 1958, it was
noted that Miss Kingsmill-Jones was
to attend Buckingham Palace for
the investiture on Tuesday, 11th
February, and she planned to stay in
London that evening. The London
Branch arranged a coffee-party at
Crosby Hall in Chelsea at 8:00pm
at short notice to mark the special
occasion. Miss Kingsmill-Jones
was the first lady Lord Mayor of
Manchester, and she was also given
the freedom of that city. Was her visit
to London Branch her first official
public appearance as Dame Mary
Kingsmill-Jones?
The next meeting this year was the
AGM held on April 19th, a summer
outing was planned to St Albans on
July 5th, although the date noted in
the minute book was July 7th, and
the year closed with an Informal
Dinner at Crosby Hall, on October
18th – however, it was noted in the
minute book that “because of Asian
flu, numbers were smaller than
expected – though 60 were present”.
The Guest speaker [1958] was Miss
Eileen Beatty, Secretary of the Guild
House, and Chief Commissioner of
the Girl Guides, Ireland. Tickets were
priced 12/6d each!
Annual AGMs and Dinners continued
in much the same pattern over the
next few years. In 1960, the summer
“out-of-London” included a visit to
February 24th, 1962, marked the
10th Anniversary of the London
Branch Alexandra College Guild.
The minutes of the AGM noted that
the London Branch events paid for
themselves, and with donations
to Guild House and fares paid for
our visitors from Dublin. The AGM
minutes this year note surprise
and shock on hearing news from
Mrs Morgan about the details of
poor state of College finances,
while news from Miss Beatty gave
us a picture of the progress of
the Guild House Extension. “As
a result of an appeal to mark our
tenth anniversary a cheque for £57
was handed to Miss Beatty for the
house” – it was hoped that two
armchairs might be purchased
with this gift. In 1962, Mrs Patricia
McLaughlin, M.P. for West Belfast,
herself an old Alexandran,
suggested that some sort of moneyraising event might be held, either
in the autumn of 1962 or spring of
1963, in the new Church Hall in
Westminster.
The first early years of the London
Branch Alexandra College Guild
[1952-1962] had some memorable
events, notable speakers and
guests. The success of the London
Branch owes much to the support
from both Alexandra College
and Guild in Dublin, and, of
course, the first of many dedicated
volunteers and strong leadership
in the London Branch itself. In a
year of celebrations marking the
foundation of Alexandra College
Dublin 150-years ago, we can also
begin to look forward to marking
another anniversary of our own
- the London Branch Alexandra
College Guild [and Alumnae] will
be 65-years old in 2017.
Page 7
ALUMNAE PRESS
London Branch 2015/16
And here we are in 2016 still meeting
regularly. Although we do not have
the large numbers evident in earlier
years (partly due to the fact that there
is a huge decline in the numbers
coming to London to live now) we
still have the enthusiasm and meet
up regularly with like minded people
and share experiences of happy
times in Earlsfort Terrace or Milltown,
dependent upon one’s age! Every year
in time for Christmas we are able to
send a generous donation to Dublin
to the Bursaries, and in this way we
feel a part of the Guild family. We are
grateful for the support we receive
from Dublin.
Most years the Guild President and/or
the College Principal join us and bring
us up-to-date with news from Dublin.
We meet on the second Saturday
in November (this year should be
the 12th) at the Church of Scotland,
Crown Court, Covent Garden, London.
A very central location with excellent
transport links enabling those
travelling from further afield to join us.
We tend to meet around lunch time,
and occasionally we have a guest
speaker. We enjoy lunch and a lively
discussion always ensues!
We try to plan a summer outing too,
the most recent being a trip by river
bus down the Thames to Greenwich,
a visit to the National Maritime
Museum, and lunch along the way.
When we have finalised our plans
these will be available on our
Facebook page London Branch
Alexandra Guild or you can contact us
(see below). We are only too aware
that modes of communication today
have changed and increasingly we are
using social media. It is encouraging
that people are interested in our
Facebook page and we hope in time
that we can attract new members. We
would welcome visitors from Dublin,
so why not plan a shopping trip,
theatre visit etc. to coincide with one
of our gatherings. You will be made
most welcome.
[email protected]
(Tel: 00441908612261) or
[email protected]
Page 8
Northern Ireland Branch
1953 – 2013
Before the expansion of secondary education in N. Ireland, many
girls from the North attended Alexandra School and College. This was
especially true of clergy daughters who often came from rural rectories
and boarded in the adjacent Clergy Daughter’s School.
I myself started my Alexandra career in January 1945, travelling down by
train with others. We had to have our trunks unloaded and examined at
the Border and I remember arriving at Earlsfort Terrace for the first time
in a hansom-cab. Petrol shortages meant there were few taxis in Dublin!
In 1953 a group of N. Ireland old Alexandrans decided we wanted to
keep in touch with each other and with Alexandra and the Guild, so
the N. Ireland branch was set up with Miss Holloway attending the first
meeting. There were over 270 members and AGMs, formal dinners, wine
and cheese parties, craft sales and outings were arranged. The main
activity was the annual Coffee Morning and Sale which often made over
a £1000. We were able to make donations to Guild House and the Guild
Bursaries as well as to local charities for the elderly with which our
members were involved. On our 25th anniversary, a congratulatory letter
was received from Princess Alexandra, a descendant of the College’s first
patron.
However as fewer northerners were going to school in Dublin, our
numbers decreased as we grew older. It was no longer feasible to
organise the Sale but members continued to make donations to support
the Alexandra Bursaries and other charities. We were still able to have
outings, hold our AGMs and lunches. By our 60th anniversary in 2013
our numbers were below 30, all of us pensioners, so it was decided to
close the Branch. The Dublin Guild & Past Pupils Association generously
decided to give us honorary life membership.
Since then we have had an annual informal lunch each October in a city
centre hotel and have been glad to be joined by members from Dublin.
We enjoy keeping in touch with one another and with the College,
especially as it celebrates its 150th year.
Margaret Marshall (nee Sides)
ALUMNAE PRESS
History of Canadian Guild branch
and Alexandra College. We hosted a luncheon for
the six Alex girls and their new St. Clement’s friends,
followed by a tour of the Ontario Parliament Buildings,
and a meeting with the then Lieut. Governor of
Ontario, Mrs. Hilary M. Weston (now proprietor of
Brown Thomas, Arnott’s and Selfridges!)
Our inaugural meeting was held on May 12th, 1987, at
Beth Gailey’s home in Toronto. A Chairman, Treasurer
and Secretary were elected, and we went from strength
to strength renewing old acquaintances and making
new friends.
We found a very interesting group of ladies which
included an actress, author, doctor, economist,
politician, and on it went. This group met four times
per year - autumn (usually an event with a speaker
at a member’s home), Christmas (an annual concert
followed by afternoon tea), St. Patrick’s Day luncheon,
and a summer fundraiser for Guild charities, mostly the
Alexandra Guild House.
Also in 1998, we were invited by the Ireland Fund of
Canada to attend a special breakfast at the Royal York
Hotel, Toronto, in honour of the visit of Mrs. Mary
McAleese. The previous year, five members attended
Guild Centenary events over a week-end in Dublin. In
1994 Susan Wilkinson (Jackson) hosted an evening for
Noelle Clery, founder of The Institute of Irish Studies,
who was delighted to meet up again with Beth Gailey
with whom she had attended Alexandra College more
than 50 years before. These are just a very few of the
events and functions we attended over the years.
It was a most rewarding 18 years, and we were
constantly in touch with Guild affairs in Dublin.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end,
and we reluctantly signed off in 2005.
Olive O’Malley (Turkington)
Former Sec., Alexandra Guild (Canada).
One of our many interesting speakers was Mr. Richard
Wine whose wife, Valerie (Lewis), had attended
Alexandra, and whose family business, Louis Wine
Ltd., was a landmark on Grafton Street until 1982
when they closed its doors and moved to Toronto. It
was a fascinating saga from the day in 1879 when his
ancestors arrived in Cork from Russian-held Lithuania,
to how his great-grandfather began in business by
selling tea from a cart.
We were also involved in 1998 in a student exchange
programme between St. Clement’s School, Toronto,
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ALEXANDRA BOARDING
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Five-day and seven-day options to suit, five-day boarders may stay in
for weekends by arrangement
Good supervision and daily routines
Full participation in sport, music and drama facilitated
Weekend excursions and activities
Transition year made easy, including work experience and community care
Day girls welcome to board for a few days or weeks with short-term
flexi boarding
‘Local’ boarding from the greater Dublin area and surrounding counties
means no commuting
Boarding from 5th class Junior School
Supervised evening study
Transport arranged to and from Heuston station
Parents of boarders very welcome to join school committees and the
parents’ association
Page 10
Contact Mrs.Yvonne Ginnelly, Head of Residence,
[email protected] or on 01- 470 4619
ALUMNAE PRESS
ARTSS
(Alexandra Retired
Teachers and Staff Society)
The Alexandra Retired Teachers and Staff Society is now in its ninth year,
having been originally launched back in 2009 by former Principal and
Geography teacher, Gladys Ruddock. The purpose of this group is as
a vehicle for former colleagues to keep in contact, meeting up via two
informal outings per year. The group also actively encourages former staff
members to attend current college functions where possible.
When the group originally met, we came up with a rather healthy list of
over ninety former staff, and over the nine years, we have been working to
contact our former staff room colleagues through a variety of means.
Since its foundation, the group has certainly been busy with many an
enjoyable outing – such as a visit to the Dáil, trips to Galway and Kilkenny
to see the local sights and more recently a bus trip to Ardgillan Castle. The
group has also worked to contribute to the fundraising efforts of the school
with former Council member Mary Ashmore hosting a wonderful lunch in
her home, with all proceeds going to Alexandra College Building Fund.
The next ARTSS event is set to take place in the Autumn.
If you are a former member of staff and would like to come along to the
next ARTSS outing, or know a former Alex teacher who would like to hear
about our group, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Margaret
Klotz at [email protected].
ARTSS members at a recent
outing in Kilkenny
HELEN OXLEY
I always swore that if ever I did anything which caused ‘them’ to invite me to
do something back at Alex I would say, no, but apparently I have become an
‘interesting alumna’ so here goes …
The trouble with being a superhero is the whole business of dual identity. Those
of you who knew me back in my brown uniform days may not even recognise
my name at the bottom of this item: and I’m not just talking about my surname.
As I have spent the last 30+ years reverting to Helen, those of you in the know
are sworn to secrecy, and those who don’t know, will have to do some research.
Suffice to say that my disguise was so total that on the occasion of my needing access to my academic record, the
office staff were totally stumped until the then Vice Principal suddenly had a brain wave and looked for me under ‘F’.
Following on from this early success, I have continued to express myself in any number of identities – I am sure
many of you have too. But that which has made me interesting to the editorial committee is perhaps the most
recent. Given that I left College to take a degree in Biblical and Theological Studies, I have finally taken on the
identity which, I suspect others had anticipated for me long before I was ordained in 2011. But I also continue
with my day job as the principal of a rural primary school. I am a non-stipendiary priest. I make my living as a
teacher, while also functioning as a cleric. To me these are identities which complement and overlap each other
very happily, keep me grounded, and allow me to live in the ‘real world’.
So which is the dominant identity? Which is the real me? You’ll have to ask those who know me in either sphere,
but the truth probably lies in the intersection where all of my identities (both past and present) meet.
Helen Oxley (née Green)
Class of 1983
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This is the oldest charity associated with Alexandra College. We support
18 ladies, of any religious denomination, who are experiencing financial
difficulties, through an annual bursary. These ladies receive an income
supplement of a1,980 p.a., a Hamper at Christmas and two visits per year
from a committee member.
We need to raise an additional a20,000 p.a. to
maintain our 18 bursaries.
We are a voluntary committee comprised of past pupils and depend solely on
the generosity of the parents and past pupils of Alexandra College to provide
money for these bursaries. The expenses incurred by this charity are minimal
and are limited to bank charges and postage costs. The committee work to
ensure that all donations go directly to the ladies in need.
Our operational costs are a36,000 p.a. and currently we are running at a
deficit of a20,000 p.a., so in order to maintain the bursaries the committee
needs your help.
Please help us to help these ladies through a one off donation or better still an
annual Standing Order donation.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
By Cheque
Please make the cheque payable to ALEXANDRA ALUMNAE BURSARIES and
send to Hon. Treasurer, 16 Princeton, Ardilea, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14
By Bank Transfer
ALEXANDRA ALUMNAE BURSARIES ACCOUNT,
AIB, Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2.
Account Number: 00027479 Sort Code: 93 12 25
IBAN: IE44 AIBK 9312 2500 0274 79
BIC: AIBKIE2D
Please make sure to insert your details in the narrative when making a
payment electronically.
Online Payments
Visit www.alexandracollege.eu and click on the online payments on the top
right of the home page
Note
Alexandra College Alumnae Bursaries is authorized as an ‘eligible charity’ for
the purposes of Section 848A Taxes Consolidated Act 1997.
The CHY Ref No. 1721/20002503 form can be downloaded via this link
www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/forms/chy3cert-charity.pdf
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bursarie s
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Our mission is to improve the quality of life for the women we support
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SOME QUOTES FROM
OUR LADIES
“What a lovely surprise to
receive another hamper from
you this year, I never take it for
granted! It is always filled with so
many delights; it means so much
to think of the girls choosing so
many thoughtful gifts for me. It
is the only gift I receive at this
time of the year. It makes my
Christmas bearable.”
“I am not able to get
around as much as I
used to. With my grant
I was able to refit my
bathroom and install
a shower. Your help is
very much appreciated.”
“Thankfully my 11 year
old car passed the NCT,
without my grant I would
be unable to insure it, very
many thanks for my grant”
“I received a very large
electricity bill, my cheque
arrived from the Bursaries
Committee and I was ever
so grateful for the help.”
“I had been very
neglectful about visiting
the dentist as I was very
worried about the cost. I
had broken fillings and
was in a lot of pain. With
the bursary grant I was
able to get urgent dental
treatment, thank you so
much for your help.”
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THE WASH BAG APPEAL
The Alexandra College Alumnae Bursaries Committee
are pleased to have formed a new link with a local
Women’s Shelter. Each year we are providing a grant to
assist two ladies as they are leaving the shelter to help
them to establish their new lives (ie: a deposit on an
apartment and/or buy household necessities)
We are delighted that the school is getting involved with
our outreach project - The Wash Bag Appeal.
When the women and children arrive at the shelter at
any time of the day or night, they have literally walked
out of their homes with nothing at all. Can you imagine
leaving your house one night, arriving at a strange place,
hoping you can stay and waking up the next morning
without having a toothbrush to brush your teeth or a
hairbrush to do your hair?
HOW CAN WE IN ALEXANDRA COLLEGE HELP THEM?
We would like to provide each woman and child
arriving at the shelter with a wash bag, containing
essential toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap/
bodywash, shampoo, deodorant and a hairbrush).
We will have a Wash Bag Collection in the school before
the Easter holidays. The Transition Year students are
going to coordinate collecting your donations and to
prepare the washbags for delivery to the Shelter.
Please look at home and see what you can give, maybe
you have unwanted Christmas gift sets which could be
donated.
Thank you all very much.
The Alexandra College Alumnae Bursaries Committee
WHAT TO PUT IN A WASH BAG
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Shampoo
Brush / Comb
Bodywash / Wrapped Soap
Some tips to remember: regular sized products will last longer than travel size. For health reasons all products should
be new and unused. Toothbrushes should be in a wrapper and soap bars should also be individually wrapped.
Please place your items inside a new wash bag.
SOME IDEAS FOR OTHER ITEMS THAT MAY BE INCLUDED
Face cloth
New underwear, in any size
Hand towel
Bath towel
Plastic travel case for soap and toothbrush
Conditioner
Moisturiser
Sanitary wear, in any form
Manicure Set
Small Mirror
Email: [email protected] Website: www.alexandracollege.eu/alumnae/
Alexandra College Alumnae Bursaries Committee:
Sinead Buckley Quinn, Clodagh Conroy, Callie Gleeson, Jane Grindle, Priscilla Kirwan Brown, Aisling O’Kelly,
Gladys Ruddock, Fiona Ryan, Susan Whelan
So as I believe we are probably the newest committee
to come into existence, our history is not a long one.
We have Lesley Berber and Barbara Ennis to thank for
setting up the initial Business Network and gathering
us together in the Henrietta White Centre for some
early morning brain storming as to what this Network
could become. The reins then got passed to the initial
committee of Sharon McElligott, Mary O’Kennedy, Susan
Meade and myself. We sent out a questionnaire, you
responded and we listened.
We kicked off with our first drinks event last December
in The Residence, St Stephen’s Green. As we chatted
and networked our way round the room with all our
fellow Alumnae, who braved the winter weather to
join us, we realised just how strong the community of
Alex women out there in the working world really is.
This is what we want to tap into, both for the purpose
of commercial networking amongst ourselves but also
to forge a link back with the College itself. There is
a wealth of talent out there which we feel the girls
can benefit from, they need to hear your inspirational
stories, and yes that’s all of you! We think they need to
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hear how you got to where you
are now, what it took and how
to do it for themselves. There
are TY students who need work
placements and mentoring and
5th and 6th years who need your
expertise and guidance. So with
that in mind we are working
on plans to bring all of you
together, you can start by making sure you fill in your
profile information on the Alexandra website www.
alexandracollege.ie, letting everyone know who you are
and what it is you do, this is how to find each other and
build that Old Girls Network we know is out there.
We will be in touch shortly to start profiling your
businesses on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and
to let you know when we are getting together next, so
sign up on the website, Facebook or LinkedIn and get
networking!
Karen Pappin
Alexandra Alumnae Business Network Committee
golf socie t y
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Old Alex Golfing Society has been in existence for over 50 years (since 1963). The Society is
open to past pupils of Alexandra College, including Secretarial, and past and current Staff.
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The Society meets once a year, playing various courses. In addition there are 2 schools outings a year to which
teams are sent – Union of Schools golf outing at the end of June, held in Edmondstown GC, and the ASU
(Association of School’s Union) held on the second Friday in July in Beechpark Golf Club, and includes past pupils
from Boys and Girls Schools. It is followed by dinner and is a most enjoyable social evening. Also at that Outing
there is a Cup called ‘The Wendy Porter Cup’. This cup was presented by the family of Wendy (Priestman) in her
honour. It is our ambition that we, the ‘Alexandra’ players, win this Cup as often as we can, and to date we have
had our fair share but need to fight hard to keep it in Alexandra.
Old Alexandra Golf Society outing this year
To celebrate Alexandra College’s 150 years this year’s outing will be on Monday 12th September 2016 at The
Grange Golf Club. Teeing off Times: 14.00hrs – 15.30hrs followed by Dinner and Presentation of Prizes.
Congratulations to Linda Magill Elliott on winning last year’s outing. We welcome Jane McCollum as incoming
Lady Captain for 2016 and wish her well. We were delighted to see so many new faces in 2015 and are hoping for a really big turnout this year for
Alexandra College’s 150th year. If you are interested in playing or would like some more information, please send
an email to [email protected] or phone Jackie Kilroy at 087 2593749 or Jane McCollum at 086 8436124.
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Alexandra
Preschool
Do you know about our new venture in Junior School?
Alexandra College Junior School opened a new preschool class in late August 2015.
This is an exciting new development for us. The preschool provides a happy and
exciting learning environment in which every girl is encouraged to achieve her full
potential.
The preschool children experience all the excellent indoor and outdoor facilities that
the Junior School has to offer, and it eases their transition into the KG Lower class. Girls
who attend the preschool class will be guaranteed a place in the Junior School.
The students participate in many activities in the Junior School throughout the school
year. The programme encouraged individual and social development, resulting in a
community of self-sufficient, curious and happy children who eagerly participate in all
class and social activities.
As there is already a lot of interest in places for the preschool, please contact
the Junior School at 01 4704617 or email us at [email protected] if
you are interested in a place for your daughter.
ALUMNAE PRESS
Old Alexandra Hockey Club
A History
Alexandra Hockey Club was founded in 1892 and
is the oldest hockey club in the country. Firstly
established as an Alexandra College team and later
the Old College team. In 1947 it was renamed Old
Alexandra Hockey Club. In 1960 the club opened its
membership to all players while still retaining a close
relationship with the school.
The Club has held a place in the Leinster Senior league
for its entire history. In that time it has collected a
range of trophies and the club emerged as a force to
be reckoned with in the early eighties. In that decade
alone Old Alex won 5 Senior Leagues, 4 Senior Cups,
2 All Ireland trophies, and numerous indoor titles.
With senior success, the rest of the club also emerged
with teams worthy of respect with over 20 league and
cup victories. Perhaps the most illustrious moment in
the history of Old Alex came in 1999 when the 1st XI
captured the gold medal in the European Cup Winners
Cup (Division B) in Rome. Cheered on by a large
Old Alex contingent they defeated Royal Leopold of
Belgium 2-0 in the final on Easter Monday.
The Club today
Old Alex Hockey Club currently has 4 teams playing in Divisions 1, 2, 4 and 7 of
the Leinster Senior Leagues.
Under the stewardship of former Old Alex player Nicky King, the 1st XI secured
second position in Division 1 of the Leinster league. This qualifies them for the
Ernest Young Irish Hockey League (EYIHL) playoffs, which took place on the
weekend of 15-17 April. Success in this playoff will earn them a place in the EY
IHL next season.
Old Alex Hockey Club has a proud history of contributing to Irish and Leinster
hockey at all age levels. In the past two seasons, representative honours include:
Irish Women’s Senior Team: Pamela Smithwick, Emma Russell.
Irish U18: Freya McDermott, Katherine Egan, Abbie Russell.
Leinster U21: Hannah McDermott, Vanessa Winn, Anna Roopnarinesingh.
Leinster U18: Freya McDermott, Katherine Egan, Abbie Russell, Ava Beatty,
Sophie Roopnarinesingh.
O50s Irish Masters: Orla Galvin, Joanne O’Grady.
O40s Irish Masters: Hazel Agar, Gillian Garrett, Brenda Barrett, Noreen Ryan.
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ALUMNAE PRESS
Freya McDermott, Katherine Egan, Abbie Russell were part of the Irish
U18 team who won a gold medal and promotion to the top flight of
European hockey at the EuroHockey U18 Championship II in Italy in
2015. At Masters level, the Irish O50s and O40s won silver and bronze
medals, respectively, at the 2015 European Championships in the UK.
At time of press, Irish Senior representative Pamela Smithwick is
in Bisham Abbey, competing in a three-match series against Great
Britain and will later travel to New Zealand to compete in the Hawkes
Bay Cup. Masters O50 players Orla and Joanne are imminently
Australia bound to represent Ireland O50s in the Masters World Cup
in Canberra, where they hope to improve on their bronze medal
showing from Rotterdam two years ago.
Old Alex has nurtured strong ties with Alexandra College. Current Old
Alex players and Alex schoolgirls who recently won the Schoolgirl
Leinster League and Leinster Cup are: Freya McDermott, Katherine
Egan, Caroline Nugent, Ava Beatty, Sophie Roopnarinesingh and
Chloe Harrison. The Club also has a Colts (Schoolgirl/Under 16s)
section that has over 300 members – a significant number of whom
are pupils in the College. At the other end of the age spectrum,
following a brief hiatus, the Vets team reformed and has enjoyed a
fantastic unbeaten season with 2 draws and 11 wins in their league
competition.
As for the future, Old Alex aims to offer a competitive and
enjoyable environment in which all ages can enjoy the wonderful
game of hockey.
Page 17
ALUMNAE PRESS
The great artistic tradition
As reflected in the artist’s palette on our crest, Alexandra
College has always understood that education in the
visual arts is an integral part of the development of each
student.
The Hermione Art Lecture has taken place, uninterrupted,
since 1896 and recent lecture topics have featured
renowned designer Eileen Gray and artist Imogen Stuart.
The Hermione Art Exhibition was established in 1993
to complement the lecture so that our students and the
wider Alex community can have first-hand experience of
some of Ireland’s most important contemporary artists.
Our alumnae list includes such pioneering women artists
and designers as Dorothy Blackman, Kathleen Cox, Ellen
Duncan, Grace Gifford, Eva Hamilton and her sister May
Hamilton, Lillias Mitchell, Bea Orpen, Estella Solomons
and Mary Swanzy.
Over the years, many of our students have continued this
impressive tradition and work at the highest levels in
their chosen careers in fine art and design.
Joy Gerrard
Visual Artist (Class of 1989)
Joy completed her BA in Fine Art Printmaking in NCAD in 1995 and
continued her education with an MA in Fine Art and an M. Phil in
Practice based Fine Art Research at The Royal College of Art.
Based in London, the primary focus of Joy’s work in recent years
has been the depiction of crowds. Viewed from above, hundreds
of intense, tiny brush marks draw the viewer into particular
incidents within the works, immediately recognisable – being
derived from powerful images that have proliferated via the mass
media of the Arab Spring, the Occupy movement, mass actions
across European cities and many others. These are all part of our
recent history.
The second element of her work engages public space and built
environments. She has produced ten major public installations
since 2004. These include the London School of Economics and
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
Emma O’Neill
Architect (Class of 1983)
We were delighted to welcome Emma back to Alex to deliver The Hermione
Art Lecture of 2016. Emma graduated from UCD in 1990 and managed
her own architecture for a number of years before moving to New York,
where she met William Sofield. Upon completing her Master’s in Landscape
Architecture at the University of Virginia in 1996, Emma joined Sofield in
establishing Studio Sofield where has been vice president since 2004.
In addition to Sofield’s endowment of the Cooper Hewitt National Design
Award for Interior Design in 2010, the Studio’s work was recognized on
the Architectural Digest AD 100 List and the Interior Design Best of Year List
numerous times, and was inducted into Interior Design’s Hall of Fame in 2004.
The firm has also been awarded the Beverly Hills Architectural Award in 1999
for Gucci, Rodeo Drive, and in 2003 for Yves Saint Laurent, Rodeo Drive, and in
2015 for Coach, Rodeo Drive.
Other clients include Brice and Helen Marden, Bottega Veneta, The SoHo Grand
Hotel, David Barton Gyms and Tom Ford. Currently, the Studio is developing
private residences in Manhattan, Palm Beach and London, and has recently
completed a 20-story residential tower on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
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Amelia Stein
Photographer (Class of 1976)
Amelia Stein lives and works in Dublin, establishing herself over
30 years as a singularly exacting photographer whose work is
characterized by meticulous attention to detail in tandem with the
attributes of fine black and white photographic printing. Amelia was
elected a member of the RHA in 2004 and Aosdána in 2006.
Stein has worked in theatre and opera in Ireland and her signature
black and white photography has featured widely in the Music
Industry. Absence and the passage of time is a recurring theme
is Stein’s work and recent work includes: ”Loss and Memory “,
dedicated to the passing of her parents, where dark and intimate
still lives of small personal belongings and household items
represent the loss of family . Other works include “The Palm
House “ RHA Portraits”, “The Big Sky “ and “Erris”.
Simone Rocha
Fashion Designer (Class of 2004)
Simone graduated from The National College of Art and Design in 2008
and obtained an MA from Central Saint Martin’s College in 2010.
Simone’s designs are stocked in some of the most prestigious stores in the
world including Browns, Colette in Paris, Bergdorf Goodman and 10 Corso
Como in Milan. Simone has shop-in-shops in Dover Street Market as well
as IT Beijing Market and she has had window displays in Colette and Le
Bon Marche during Paris Fashion Week.
In 2014 Simone launched her collaboration with J Brand and has received
accolades including 2013 Emerging Designer British Fashion Award, Best
Future Fashion Wallpaper* Award 2013, being a finalist in the inaugural
LVMH prize, Young Designer of the Year at The Harper’s Women of
the Year Awards 2014 and the 2014 British Fashion Award for New
Establishment Designer.
In August 2015 Simone opened her first shop in London on Mount Street.
Orla Kaminska
Ceramic Artist (Class of 1982)
Orla graduated from NCAD in 1987 and lives in
Ireland. Her experience has involved her in the
many prominent architectural ceramic and mosaic
art commissions including UCD, Dun Laoghaire
Ferry Terminal and recently for the ‘Scattered Shoal’
amphitheatre, at the award winning town rejuvenation
scheme in Portrush. Her public participation work has
been awarded the 2014 ‘Arts and Humanities’ prize
from ECCO (European Breast Cancer Confederation).
Orla’s porcelain sculptures explore pattern in
nature, inspired by seasonal cycles of plant forms
where themes of form and erosion are expressed by
combining fine wire and porcelain, creating translucent
and fragile structures.
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A report from the
Music Department
Here is some news on how some of our past musical pupils have fared.
Lauren Kinsella
Vocalist and composer
After leaving Alex in 2001, Lauren
Kinsella has gone on to become
an award winning vocalist and
composer. Based in London where
she completed her Masters at the
Royal Academy of Music, Lauren now
performs extensively through the
UK, Ireland and Europe as a soloist,
a bandleader and within collectives
and new music and interdisciplinary
projects.
Máire Flavin
Singer
Máire Flavin 2000 represented
Ireland at the BBC Cardiff Singer of
the World 2011, reaching the Song
Prize final. Having recently made
the move into soprano repertoire,
Máire has worked as a mezzo
with companies such as Welsh
National Opera Scottish Opera and
Glyndebourne.
With an affinity for song, Máire
made her debut with the RTE
National Symphony Orchestra at
the National Concert Hall Dublin.
She has performed recitals across
the UK and Ireland and she is set
to tour again taking the role of
Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte.
Máire is a graduate of the National
Opera Studio London, the opera
course at the Guildhall School of
Music and Drama, the Royal Irish
Academy of Music and Queen’s
University Belfast.
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Called in the Guardian as ‘the
powerful freewheeling Lauren
Kinsella’, she has won several awards
including The Young Musicwide
Award (2010-2013), The Kenny
Wheeler Jazz Prize (2013), the
Gershon Ellenbogen/Maccabaen
Award (2013) and the The Jazzlines
Fellowship (2015).
As well as performing and composing,
she is a senior lecturer on the Leeds
Conservatoire’s Undergraduate
Programme teaching jazz voice and
contemporary improvisation. You can
also hear her work regularly on BBC
Radio 3, Jazz FM, RTE Lyric FM, BBC
Radio Scotland and Resonance FM.
Anna Devin
Singer
A graduate of Alex in 2000. Anna
Devin has established an international
career since graduating from the Royal
Opera House’s Jette Parker Young
Artist programme in 2012. The last
season culminated in Anna receiving a
prestigious Helpman Award for ‘Best
supporting female in a opera’.
A frequent concert performer,
Devin’s repertoire encompasses
a vast range of both sacred and
secular works. She has appeared
as part of the BBC Proms with the
Hallé Orchestra, the London Handel
Festival, Brighton Early Music Festival,
Belfast Festival, as well as the RTE
National Symphony Orchestra and
the Ulster Orchestra. Her American
performances at Carnegie Hall, the
Houston Symphony Orchestra and the
Minnesota Orchestra.
This year she is set to appear with
the Glynebourne Touring Opera
Company and at the Welsh National
Opera, Seattle Symphony and the
Lasanne Bach Festival.
ALUMNAE PRESS
Isabelle O’Connell
Pianist
After mesmerizing many a Special Assembly audience, it was not a major
surprise to fellow Alexandrans that a career at the piano was destined for
Isabelle O’Connell. Since leaving Alex in 1994, Isabelle has developed an
international career as soloist and chamber musician that has taken her across
continents.
Described by the New Yorker as “the young Irish piano phenom”, she made
her Carnegie Hall debut recital in 2002, and has also performed at venues such
as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Symphony Space, Baryshnikov Arts
Center, Chicago Cultural Center and Cleveland Museum of Art. She is also the
co-founder of the Grand Band, a six piano sextet based in New York.
In addition to performing the well known greatest music pieces written for
piano, Isabelle works to advance the work of new composers, regularly
commissioning and premiering new works. She is currently on the piano faculty
at Bard College, New York.
Julia Canavan
Singer
A graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with a Masters
Degree in Opera in 1999, Julia Canavan (Class of 1991) has performed all
over Ireland and Europe as a soprano soloist. Tours as a soloist include with
Opera Theatre Company, the RTE Concert Orchestra, the National Symphony
Orchestra and major choral societies in Ireland.
Julia co-founded the Wicklow School of Music in 2002 and has received a
business award from the Shell LiveWire Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Competition. She has also founded ‘Pitch Perfect Ladies Choir’ which is for
women who have an ambition to sing in a choir and to meet other women.
After teaching singing for fifteen years, Julia is now back in Alexandra College
sharing her wealth of knowledge with current Alex students interested in
learning vocals.
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ALUMNAE PRESS
In Memoriam
Muriel Woodworth (nee Rea)
10 September 1915 - 6 November 2015
Muriel passed away just a few
weeks after celebrating her 100th
birthday – a very happy occasion
which she had been looking forward
to and which she greatly enjoyed,
particularly being surrounded by all
her family and many friends.
She entered Alexandra in 1922 at
the age of 7. Excelling at hockey
and always a rebel, she loved to
tell the story of how she was once
threatened with expulsion for
talking during religious education!
Throughout her life she gave
generously of her time and energy
to voluntary work. For many years
as a member of the White Ribbon
movement she went at the crack of
dawn to make tea and sandwiches
for the drovers at the Dublin cattle
market. She was a member of
Alexandra Guild and also chaired
the Guild House for a number of
years where she tirelessly raised
funds, employed staff, admitted
residents – almost a full time job, but
done totally voluntarily. She was a
talented and creative needlewoman
and seamstress and additionally over
the years she created three beautiful
gardens.
Music was very important to her and
attending concerts with her friends at
the NCH were among the highlights
of her later years.
Muriel would have been thrilled
that a Celebration of her life with
words and music took place at
Alexandra College in the presence
of three generations of her family
and her many friends – all of
whom were so important to her
throughout her long life.
Anne and Judy Woodworth
Mary Frances O’Higgins (née Conlon),
(1921-2016)
Some personal reminiscences: Mary Frances O’Higgins,
or Frankie as she was known to friends and colleagues,
was born in Ballymahon, County Longford. She was a
boarder to the Convent of Mercy, Ballymahon, where
she completed her secondary education. She attended
University College, Galway, with her sister, Nell, and
graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of
Science degree at the same time. The result was that
Frankie could teach a wide range of subjects, with a
high level of professional competence. These included
Irish, Latin and Business Studies.
Frankie joined the staff in Alexandra College and
became a much respected senior teacher. To her junior
colleagues in the staffroom, Frankie was an ‘agony
aunt’. She advised us on love affairs, on the wisdom of
buying our own homes and on many other important
aspects of our lives. Many of us owe a great deal to
Frankie’s wise counsel. She had an immense respect
for Alexandra College and inculcated that respect in her
junior colleagues.
As a child of eight or nine years old, Frankie contracted
diphtheria. The disease was often fatal. Only Frankie
and an adult man in Ballymahon survived that particular
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outbreak. One effect of this no doubt traumatic period
of her life was to make Frankie the voracious reader that
she became. Her taste was eclectic, ranging from the
great biographies of Antonia Fraser to light novels and
books on travel. Her home had a very fine library; her
room in Belmont Nursing Home also had an impressive
collection of books
Another characteristic of Frankie that I would attribute in
part to that childhood illness was her certainty that she
was a much-loved person. She often spoke of the great
affection of her parents and of her brothers and sister,
all of whom predeceased her. On my visits to her in the
nursing home, a photo of her beloved husband, Eamon,
was always in pride of place. She enjoyed the affection of
her nieces and nephews and their families and revelled in
their achievements. This well-loved person, who almost
died as a child, was laid to rest, aged 95, on the 2nd
of February, Candlemas Day, 2016. As her former Alex
colleagues walked behind her coffin, carrying our lighted
candles, I felt that this was exactly the kind of farewell,
full of light and of affection that Frankie would have
wanted. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
Maura Clancy
ALUMNAE PRESS
Clara Hanna
Friday 11th March 2016
Many lives will be the poorer for Clara’s passing. Some
time round the 1950’s Miss McMullen, as she was then,
came to work in Alexandra College on Earlsfort Terrace in
the administrative department. She dealt with petty cash,
and such things as dinner money. At that time she was not
well known to many of us School staff as she was based in
the College building.
She married Jack Hanna. I remember going to tea with
some of my colleagues in her beautiful new house near the
Burma Road on Killiney Hill. In the fullness of time Brian,
Ian and Heather were born. Clara was very proud of her
family and loved to tell of their doings. Later she loved to
tell us about her grandchildren, always referring to them by
their professions, the” teacher”, or the “architect”.
Clara returned to ACD and became Burser. Many of us
have reason to be grateful to her for she was tireless in
pursuing us to make sure we had signed the monthly
sheet to get our salaries. Some too could easily have been
short in their pensions at the end of the day but for Clara’s
insistence that we should make the maximum contribution
to our pensions. Her downright manner, softened by a
quirky little smile, caused no offence.
After she retired Clara filled her time with a variety of
activities. She joined the local Active Retired Group, the
Irish Country Womens’ Association, she was a Soroptimist.
With these groups she travelled widely from China to the
USA. She loved a game of Bridge and played several times
a week until her failing sight meant that she had to give it
up. She was a regular attender at Heather Adams’ “Fitness
for Fun” classes, enjoying too the Biblical interlude “for” as
Heather writes, “she had a deep faith, which grew deeper
as she grew older.” She was a regular attender at York
Road Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir.
Clara claimed to be no gardener, but year after year she
had the most remarkable display of ivy geraniums on the
high south-facing wall in her front garden. The flowers
climbed up some fifteen feet and the melange of pink
and scarlet was the wonder of Sandycove. If they bloom
this year they will be a fitting memorial to her, though she
will be remembered too for her conscientiousness ,her
unfailing kindness, and her great generosity.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
Honor Stuart
Rev’d. Patricia Margaret Snow
October 19th, 2015
In Scarborough, England. Fondly remembered by her brother Frank and all her many friends. Memorial Service was
held on Monday, November 2nd at Dulverton Hall, Scarborough.
NEW BOOK ON PIONEERING
ALEXANDRANS TO BE
PUBLISHED IN 2016
The College is publishing a book entitled ‘Pioneering Alexandrans’ to commemorate its 150th
anniversary. The publication is a reproduction of entries relevant to Alexandra College that
appear in the Royal Irish Academy’s Dictionary of Irish Biography (DIB), the nine volumes of
which were published in 2009. Ronan Fanning, Professor Emeritus of Irish History in UCD has
written an introduction to the publication.
The book is being launched on 11th October, Founder’s Day, in the College, after the
Ardilaun Lecture, which will be delivered by Professor Roy Foster, the Carroll Professor of
Irish History at Hertford College, Oxford. It will be an important occasion in this year of
celebration for the College and we look forward to welcoming many of our past students and
staff, as well as our current community of students, staff and parents.
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