AMASC IRELAND
Autumn 2016
World Association of Alumnae & Alumni of the Sacred Heart
The Real People of Joyce’s Ulysses
Vivien Igoe (Mater Admirabilis, class of 1960)
On 9 June, my book titled The Real People in Joyce’s Ulysses published
by UCD Press was launched by Professor Declan Kiberd at the James
Joyce Centre, 35 North Great George’s Street. The book is partly based
on my PhD thesis.
I missed Bloomsday on 16 June in Dublin as I was invited to give a
lecture at Cambridge University. The world’s fourth-oldest surviving
university, it was founded in 1209 on a site first settled by the Romans.
Together with lecturing about some of the more colourful Dublin
characters in the book, which contains over 600 entries, I also included
the dozen or so people with Cambridge connections.
Vivien signs a copy of her book for Sister Joan Hutchinson at the
book launch. Image credit: Fran Veale
Message from the Chairperson
Dear Fellow Past Pupils,
Among them were Charles Stewart Parnell (1846–91), from Avondale,
Rathdrum, Co Wicklow who attended Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Sir Robert Stawell Ball (1840–1913), the astronomer and
mathematician who worked at Birr Castle for the 3rd Earl of Rosse,
was Lowndean professor of astronomy and geometry at Cambridge.
William Pitt (1759–1806) was educated at Cambridge and was later
British prime minister. He was responsible for building the Martello
Towers around the coast of Ireland, including the tower at Sandycove
known as the Joyce Tower, where the opening chapter of Ulysses
takes place on 16 June 1904. Without Pitt we would not have had the
Joyce Tower!
I hope you have managed to attend some of our Past Pupil
events during the year. The very active members of the
AMASC, MAPPA, Benevolent Fund, Sophie Barat and Cork
Committees have many very nice events organised for the
next few months. All Past Pupils are welcome at the
AMASC/MAPPA Coffee Morning in the Sophie Barat Residence on the second Saturday of every month throughout As it was race week at Ascot, and the day on which the Ascot Gold Cup
the year from 10.30 a.m. to 12.00 p.m.
was run, I spoke about the dark horse ‘Throwaway’ an outsider, who
won the Gold Cup on the first Bloomsday 112 years ago.
We hope you enjoy the new format of our weekly eZine
Bulletin from the Past Pupils’ Office. If you ever would like There were 40 invited guests at the lecture some of whom read
to include something in the weekly eZine or notify the office passages from Ulysses. Following a Bloomsday lunch, which included
of an event relating to a Past Pupil, you should contact Jessi- Gorgonzola and Burgundy, the same as Leopold Bloom had at Davy
ca in the office directly. All suggestions and contributions to Byrne’s, I was taken on a tour of Cambridge that included St Giles’s
both the weekly eZine and Newsletter are very welcome. If churchyard where Sir Robert Ball
you do not have access to email you can of course always is buried. The Cam, which flows
have the email sent to a relative or friend on your behalf.
through this quintessentially English city with its elegant bridges, is
On Sunday the 18th September there will be an Open Day in popular with both students and
the Sophie Barat Residence to celebrate 21 years of success tourists who enjoy punting on the
of the Retirement Village. All are welcome to attend.
river.
I would like to congratulate Sr. Barbara Dawson, RSCJ on her
appointment as Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart for the next eight years. The election took place
during the General Chapter of the Society in Rome this summer Sr. Dawson who is American, is currently the Provincial
of the province of United States/Canada. We wish her every
blessing in her new role, which she will take up in November and hope she can visit Ireland to meet us all at some
stage.
Many writers and poets have described the beauty of Cambridge
including Henry James who wrote
‘…the loveliest confusion of gothic
windows and ancient trees, of
grassy banks and mossy balustrades, of sun-chequered avenues
and groves, of lawns and gardens
and terraces, of single arched
bridges spanning the little
Many thanks to all our members and their friends for their
stream…’ It is certainly a place I
continuing and whole-hearted support to the AMASC, MAPwould love to revisit and explore.
PA, Benevolent, Sophie Barat, and Cork Committees.
With best wishes,
Joanne Sheehan, Chairperson, AMASC (Ireland)
AMASC (Ireland), incorporating Armagh, Leeson St, Monkstown, Mount Anville &
Roscrea Associations, Benevolent Fund and Sophie Barat Residences
1
Leeson Street Class of 1966
LAURENCE FREEMAN OSB
Friday 25th November 2016, 7.30pm
Back row: Barbara O’Dwyer (Brennan), Kerry Holland, Candy Holten (Cussen), Margaret Reddy (Cullen), Margaret Tinsley (Hogan),
Melisa Hensey (Smith), Stephanie Murphy, Grainne Delaney, Anne
Montgomery (Ward), Orla Gallagher, Rose O’Duffy, Patricia Fitzpatrick (Daly), Maria Carney, Sheelagh Barrett (May) Seated:
Celine O’Donovan (Maguire), Joan Passi (Eustace), Aelish Hayes
(Kilroy), Marjorie Sliney, Miranda Moriarty, Louise Wardell
On 6th May 2016 the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire was the
venue for the Leeson Street Class of 1966 50 th anniversary reunion. Some had travelled from as far away as Canada, Germany,
Belgium and England for the occasion, and the very few who were
unable to attend had sent best wishes. Miranda Moriarty
Leeson Street Class of 1953
Laurence Freeman OSB, Benedictine monk, international
speaker, and the spiritual guide and Director of World
Community for Christian Meditation will speak at Holy Cross
Church, Dundrum this November.
Fr. Laurence is author of many books and has been teaching
an MBA course in Meditation & Leadership at the School of
Business, Georgetown University, Washington DC
Oasis Day
Saturday 12th November 2016, 9.30 am—6pm
Why not take a few hours out to have some quiet time for
yourself? Join us for an Oasis Day in the Manreasa Jesuit
Centre of Spirituality. Cost is €50 per person and includes
lunch. For further information contact
Joanne Sheehan – 087 4105588.
Standing: Aylish (Duffy) Fox, USA, Frances Shields, Peggy
(Mangan) Massey, Blanka (Winklemann) Flavin; Seated: Anne
(O’Brien) O’Reilly, Eileen (Roche) Pentz, Ethna (Carton) Cotter,
Nuala (O’Rahilly) Price, Ann (Donnelly) O’Byrne, Elizabeth
(O’Leary) Moloney.
JOINT VISIT BY AMASC AND MAPPA TO
JOIGNY, FRANCE
Leeson Street Class of ‘53 at their quarterly coffee get-together in
the Radisson Hotel, Stillorgan Road, Dublin in March 2016.
Frances Shields
Thursday 4th May to Sunday 7th May 2017
Mater Admirabilis (Mount Anville Day School) Reunion
MAPPA and AMASC (Ireland) are visiting the home of St.
Madeleine Sophie Barat in Joigny, Burgundy, France,
from Thursday 4th May 2017 to Sunday 7th May 2017 for
a time of reflection. Fifteen places are available at a
cost of €370 per person which includes:

On 11th March 2016 Mater Admirabilis Day Secondary School
held a reunion for anyone who attended the school during the
years 1955 - 1966. Over a hundred past pupils attended the event
along with some teachers. Mary Golden
Return flights from Dublin to Paris (Charles de
Gaulle Airport). Coach transfers
Three nights’ accommodation in Centre Sophie Barat, Rue Davier, Joigny ([email protected]). Full board.
Early booking is advised. Contact Jessica in the Past
Pupils’ Office on (01) 278 3362
New to Sophie Barat...
Helen Ritchie, Roscrea class of 1967
Knowing that I would be retiring in 2014, it was on my mind that it would
probably be necessary to move house and down-size to a smaller place. Having
become aware of the Sophie Barat residence, my two daughters accompanied
me to an open day in Kilmacud in October 2014 to look at the feasibility of
relocating to the dwelling.
As luck would have it, the sun was splitting the stones and the houses and
their wonderful setting could not have looked more glorious and inviting. I
realised this was exactly the kind of accommodation I was looking for and
immediately went about starting the application process.
I was delighted to discover I had been accepted and would soon be making my
home at this superb living quarters. I finally moved into my new home in May
2015 and despite the minor matter of adjusting to the smaller surroundings –
and not having a back door for the first time in my life(!) - I quickly settled in.
As anyone who lives at Sophie Barat can attest, the sense of community,
camaraderie and perhaps most importantly, security was immediately obvious. Getting to know my friendly neighbours made the big
move even easier. After more than twelve months living in No. 3, I have watched the beautiful gardens bloom and transform through
a full year of seasons.
Celebrating Easter with a family occasion in the extremely spacious communal area with fourteen members of my immediate family
- including six grandchildren – made me appreciate the additional benefits of community living. The large kitchen and voluminous
dining room is a perfect place to toast a birthday or plan a big feast.
The houses are available to all Sacred Heart past
pupils world-wide. This includes both men and
women who have attended Montessori, Junior or
Senior schools.
Join us on Sunday 18th September 2016 for an Open Day to
celebrate 21 years of Sophie Barat Residence! 12 noon - 4 pm. All welcome!
Joint Committees’ Supper, June 2016
Including AMASC, MAPPA and Benevolent Fund Committees as well as Directors of Sophie Barat Residence
Joanne Sheehan,
Chairperson, AMASC
Irene Doody,
Chairperson, Sophie Barat
Residence
Máire Ní Chearbhaill explained at the gathering that ‘Voluntary work among past pupils of Sacred Heart
schools has a 150-year history,’. In her presentation on the activities of the Children of Mary of the Sacred
Heart schools in the 1860s and 1870s, Máire described how these nineteenth-century women held regular
sewing sessions and produced great quantities of clothes for needy families and vestments for poor churches. ‘The women donated their left-over materials, ribbons and lace, and created new garments and altar
requisites,’ says Máire, a past pupil Monkstown. ‘One woman gave her wedding gown and another some
lovely silks. Those who didn’t produce the goods were fined 6 pence, which went to support the work.’
The first Children of Mary meeting for past pupils had been held in the Sacred Heart Convent in Glasnevin in
1864, but when the nuns crossed the Liffey to their new convent in Mount Anville the following year, the
location was considered too isolated. Undaunted, the women rented city-centre rooms and continued their
work, sending vestments to poor churches and workhouse chapels throughout the country. A range of
warm outfits was supplied for children who lived in the vicinity of Mount Anville, including pinafores and
dresses, baby clothes, chemises and petticoats, jackets and cloaks, caps and mittens.
AMASC (IRELAND)
COMMITTEE 2016
Laura Casey (Roscrea)
Marie Doyle (Monkstown), Treasurer
Pat Egan (RSCJ)
Phil Elwood (Roscrea), Cork Branch
Jean Fitzgerald (Mount Anville) Sophie Barat
Elizabeth Gebruers (Roscrea), Cork Branch
Muriel McAuley (Roscrea)
Léan McMahon (Mount Anville), MAPPA President
Áine Carson Tennyson (Mount Anville), MAPPA
Michelle Melotte (Roscrea)
Mary Clare Norris ( Armagh)
Hilda O’Connell (Leeson Street)
Perdita Quinlan (Mount Anville), Benevolent Fund
Joanne Sheehan (Monkstown) (Chairperson, AMASC)
Eilish Tennent (Armagh)
The Sacred Heart Past Pupils’ Benevolent Fund presents
Bookclub Night:
Meet the Authors
Thursday 6th October 2016
Past pupils Marita Conlon-McKenna, Lia Mills
& Sinéad Moriarty in conversation with
Joanne Byrne
When: 7.30 p.m., Thursday 6th October 2016
Where: The Atrium, Mount Anville Senior School
Tickets: €20
All Sacred Heart past pupils, family & friends welcome
Tickets available online (click here) or direct from the Past Pupils’ Office
Proceeds to the Sacred Heart Past Pupils’ Benevolent Fund
Past Pupils Office, Mount Anville House, Mount Anvile Road, Dublin 14.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +353 1 2783362
Sacred Heart Golf Society
Thursday 22nd September 2016
Join us for our annual outing, hosted this year in
Open Day celebrating 21 years of the
Sophie Barat Residence
shot-gun start at 2.30pm (limited 9-hole slots also available). Don’t
Sunday 18th September 2016, 12 - 4pm
Lower Kilmacud Road, Dublin 14
play golf? All welcome to join for dinner and drinks at 7pm. For
Sacred Heart Golf Society Outing
Booking Form and further information contact Jessica in the Past
Thursday 22nd September 2016, 2.30pm
Woodbrook Golf Club, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Woodbrook Golf Club. 3-ball, 18-hole competition,
Pupils’ Office (01) 278 3362
Bookclub Night: Meet the Authors
12 Sept
10 Oct
14 Nov
12 Dec
9 Jan
13 Feb
‘Drop In’ Coffee
Mornings
Pauline Scanlon and Marie
Harte Barat
Sophie
Marie Doyle and Mary Clare Norris
Perdita Quinlan and Moya
Farrell
Residences
Pat Egan and Geraldine O’Connor
Eilish Tennent and Marie Kirwan
Hilda O’Connell and Mimi Goodnman
AMASC & MAPPA host a Coffee Morning in the
Sophie Barat Residence in Mount Anville on the second
Saturday of every month throughout the year, from 10.30 a.m. to
12.00 noon.
All are welcome…!
This is a great occasion to meet some of the residents in the Sophie
Barat bungalows as well as past pupils and some of our former
teachers. Coffee Morning dates and hostesses for the coming months
are listed below.
10th September 2016
8th October 2016
12th November 2016
10th December 2016
14th January 2017
11th February 2017
Muriel McAuley & Pauline Scanlon
Mimi McDonnell & Marie Doyle
Mary Briscoe & Margaret Cawley O’Connor
Pat Egan & Geraldine O’Connor
Eilish Tennent & Maire Kirwan
Hilda O’Connell & Moya Farrell
Thursday 6th October 2016,
The Atrium, Mount Anville, Dublin 14
Bridge Morning
Thursday 13th October 2016, 10.30am
Royal St George Yacht Club, Dunlaoghaire
Oasis Day
Saturday 12th November 2016, 9—6pm
Manreasa Jesuit Centre of Spirituality, Clontarf
Road
Mass for Deceased Past Pupils, friends,
family and Sisters of the Sacred Heart
Sunday 13th November 2016, 11 am
The Chapel, Mount Anville, Dublin 14
AMASC/MAPPA trip to Joigny, France
Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th May 2017
Weekend in Glenstall, dates TBC
May 2017
Contact Jessica in the Past Pupils Office
T: 01 2783362
E: [email protected]