No. 98 - Newsletter of the Cistercian College Roscrea Union
Thousands of CCR pastmen
all over the world were
devastated to hear the news
that after 112 years their
beloved Alma Mater was
going to close. Tears were
shed, messages exchanged
by text, email and social
media – most of us just too
shell shocked to think of
doing anything about it,
except exchange messages
showing how saddened we all
were, and how appreciative
we were of all that CCR had
done to shape our lives.
Not so the Parents’ Association!
As the new week started, news
was breaking of a meeting to be
held in the County Arms Hotel
in Birr on Wednesday 22nd
February which was preceded
by a four hour meeting of the
Parents’ Association with the
Abbot, Dom Richard, which gave
a hint of a possible reprieve. This
meeting was very well attended by
parents and pastmen and sent an
extremely positive message about
the desire of one and all to save
the College. A further meeting
with Dom Richard on Friday 24th
February led to the letter from
him which stated that no further
action will be taken prior to 17
March 2017 pending engagement
with the group to be formed from
among parents and pastmen to
explore possible viable proposals
for the future of the College.
Others including the current and
immediate past Union President
have also rowed in and have been
working tirelessly in support of
the project.
As many of us are only too well
aware, the falling numbers since
the recession started have led
to the College being subsidised
by the Monastery – this was
not going to be sustainable long
term, but with the economy
seeming to pick up and a bounce
from winning the Senior Cup so
spectacularly in 2015, there was
real hope for the future.
Now the reality is that unless the
Action Group can come up with
pledges of serious contributions,
and a viable plan for the next
five years in the next few weeks,
the College WILL close and so
much that we all cherish will be
just a memory. Inside this special
edition of the Roscrea Review is
an urgent message from Union
President Pádraic Ó Máille to all
pastmen – it has already been
circulated by email but there are
2,000 pastmen for whom we have
postal but not email addresses.
At the bottom of this page is a
link to a short survey the Action
Group is conducting to research
the extent to which children of
pastmen might be likely to attend
CCR in years to come. Even if
your children are long left school,
feel free to complete it.
Spring 2017
Production of an edition of the
Roscrea Review covering events
of 2016 was at a fairly advanced
state when the sad news broke. It
will be produced in due course.
This special edition has been
rushed out so that ALL pastmen
are made aware of the crisis, and
to give them an opportunity to do
something to turn things around.
Inside are details of the campaign
and its leaders who are to be
commended for their selfless
dedication to the cause of saving
for future generations the Alma
Mater we love so well.
TOGETHER
WE CAN SAVE
CCR!
[email protected]
#saveccr
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/
search/top/?q=saveccr
Please complete the
following online survey:
https://www.
surveymonkey.com/r/
WPNXVYM
Spearheading the
Campaign to save CCR
Ronnie Culliton (CCR 1979-’84)
Parents with Dom Richard
Mark Ryan (1974-’77) seen here handing over the chain of office to current
Union President Pádraic Ó Máille at the Union AGM last September
Fergal Cox (CCR 1987-’92)
Roscrea Review
Arthur Spring (CCR 1989-’95)
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Bill O’Brien (CCR 1963-’68)
Graham Ross (CCR 1989-’95)
PÁDRAIC Ó MÁILLE President
March 2nd 2017
Dear CCR Pastman,
There has been an overwhelming
expression of emotion from
pastmen worldwide, the parents
of the current student body, and
significantly, from the current
students to the recent news that
CCR is to close.
Following discussions with the
parents, the Abbot and pastmen a
decision to close the school has been
deferred until March 17th pending the
exploration of further viable proposals
for the future management of the
College.
In order for the school to have the
chance of succeeding three outcomes
must be achieved.
1. An alternative model of schooling
and management needs to be
thoroughly researched to establish
if there are actually viable options.
2. The current parents need an
immediate response to the future
of the school as they have to make
decisions regarding their sons
future imminently. This is why a
decision has to be made by March
17th 2017.
3. The Abbot will require a concrete
financial commitment that will
ensure the College can exist and
operate for at least a period of
three years in order to allow a new
model of schooling to take root and
succeed.
Already the task of exploring
alternative models has begun and
some interesting proposals are
emerging. The reality is however that
it will take at least three months to
thoroughly research and robustly
debate the implications of these.
The parents have expressed massive
solidarity and support for the
continuation of the school. As of today
we have commitments that the vast
majority will commit to leaving their
children in the school if the decision
to close is reversed.
What is abundantly clear however
is that the school cannot continue
without the assistance of an
immediate financial injection that
will ensure it can operate effectively.
Without this commitment the school
will inexorably close.
I am now appealing to you, as
part of the diaspora of over 3,000 past
pupils around the globe, to donate to
helping save CCR.
Our appeal is that you commit a
sum of money by email or letter by
Friday March 10th next to the address
below.
This money will ONLY be required if
the future of the school is secured. In
this event we will communicate with
you regarding the mechanics and the
governance regarding the transfer of
funds.
Much discussion over the past week
has focused on the issue of whether
enough was done to sustain the
future of the College or whether
the traditional model of boarding
school is simply obsolete. We, the
pastmen, now have a tiny window of
opportunity to test some alternative
models. What is certain is that
without your financial support
this will not materialise and the
school will close.
The bottom line is that CCR is
flourishing academically, culturally
and in sport.
A recent Sunday Times survey ranked
CCR in the top five schools in Ireland.
The current team of teachers is now
regarded as being the best in the
country.
The standard and participation in
musical and cultural events has never
been higher. At the annual Carol
Singing in the Monastery in December
ninety of the entire student body of
one hundred and sixty seven were on
the altar performing wonderfully.
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In the past three years CCR has
appeared in two Leinster Senior
Cup Rugby Finals, winning for the
first time in the schools history in
2015. Also in 2015 Roscrea won the
Leinster and All Ireland Hurling
Championships (Division C).
On Tuesday last, Mr. Gerry Grealish,
Dean of Studies, conducted a survey
with the Transition Year students in
the College. Their overriding emotion
and wish and plea was for the College
to remain open.
As pastmen we can take pleasure and
pride in the way that CCR shaped us
and developed us. We have our legacy.
Let’s give the current students an
opportunity to create theirs.
We now have a very tiny
window of opportunity so as a
Past Student please give your
support.
In order to do that please confirm
your financial commitment to me now
by email or letter.
Best wishes,
Pádraic Ó Máille.
President.
Cistercian College Roscrea, Union.
Alumni Office,
Cistercian College,
Roscrea.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 087-2647817
ROSCREA Review
Three generations of McGinnittys & Murphys
Brian McGinnity who received an Entrance Scholarship to UCD in
recognition of his excellent Leaving Cert results last Summer (580
points) and is now studying Commerce at UCD.
Brian is photographed with his Dad Eoin (CCR 1987-’92) and his
grandfather Eugene (CCR 1961-’66).
Pictured in Donnybrook after victory in the Junior League Final
December 2015: Former Union President Dr. Sean Murphy (CCR 1955’60) and College Physio Brian Murphy (CCR 1985-’90) with Brian’s
wife Lyndsay and their three children Ben (TY), Sam (2nd year) and
Luke (1st year 2020).
Let’s hope there’ll be a fourth generation of McGinnittys and Murphys in CCR!
The scene from the balcony at UL Concert
Hall during CCR’s annual Musical Evening
in 2012.
Three CCR Legends: Dan Trayers, Willie
Mullins and Tim Foley on 17th March 2015.
Union gold Medal 2016: Lucas Culliton
accepting the Union Gold Medal for the best
Junior Cert results from Pádraic Ó Máille
alongside College President Brendan Feehan
Five Abbots – pictured on
the occasion of the Class of
’61 Golden Jubilee Reunion:
Dom Kevin Daly, Dom Richard
Purcell, Dom Colmcille O’Toole
R.I.P., Dom Peter Garvey R.I.P.
and Dom Ambrose Farrington.
YSE 2013 Richard
Tynan with his prize
winning exhibit at
the 2013 BT Young
Scientist Competition
in the RDS.
The scene as members of the victorious
SCT celebrate CCR’s victory over Belvedere
College in the Leinster Cup Final on
St. Patrick’s Day 2015.
Roscrea Review
Leinster and All Ireland Hurling ‘C’ Champions 2015
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www.graphprint.ie
Could we ever forget?