Coláiste De La Salle Past Pupils Union

The current P.P.U. Committee is as follows:

Chairman: Paddy Corkery
Vice Chairman: John Murphy
Secretary/ Assistant Secretary: Tadgh O'Mahony, John Buckley
Treasurer/ Assistant Treasurer: Mort Kelleher, Roger Healy
Committee Members: Colman Corrigan, Paddy Murphy, John O'Mahony, Noel Dunne

History of De La Salle Past Pupils Union

The Past Pupils Union of De La Salle College Macroom was founded in 1958. Mr. Con O' Leary, a past pupil of the school wrote a letter to the school principle Bro. Leo Healy R.I.P. and suggested that a Past Pupils Union should be formed. In the following weeks a meeting was organised by the late John Reardon, a past pupil and a member of the staff, which resulted in the formation of De La Salle Past Pupils Union, Macroom. The First Committee: President: Con O' Leary; Chairman: Harry O' Leary; Vice Chairman: Séan MacSweeney R.I.P.; Hon. Sec.: John Reardon R.I.P.; Hon. Treasurer: John Browne; Dan Vaughan. Committee: Bro. Leo R.I.P., E. Warren, J. O' Conner, S. Murphy R.I.P., D. Dineen, J. O' Sullivan, B. Desmond, C. Browne, J. O' Callaghan, P.J. Fitzgearld, Ml. L. Healy.

Following the first pantomime, a Presentation of a Film Projector and Equipment was presented to the school. In the following years the contribution by the P.P.U. to the school included a set of Books, Sports Equipment and of course the "Medals" which were presented to the best pupil in the Intermediate and Leaving Cert Exams. Before free education came into being the P.P.U. awarded a scholarship to the pupil who came first in Special examination. These medals became a very important feature of the P.P.U. and as can be seen from the list of Medal Winners they reached a very high standard of education and now many hold high positions in both the academic and business worlds. These medals were usually presented at the Annual Past Pupils Social, which was for many years a very important social event in the town.

Past Presidents of De La Salle P.P.U.

The P.P.U. became renowned for their Christmas Panto's which as well as providing entertainment for the public at Christmas time, also provided activity for the people involved for three months of the year in preparing the show.

Also the P.P.U. aided the school in organising some past pupils to speak to senior pupils in the school with regard to careers.

In 1975 the P.P.U. founded the Macroom Historical Society which has since opened a Museum in Castle Street and is actively engaged in organising many events of a historical and literary nature.

The most eventful year in the P.P.U. was 1978. A special social was held where an individual trophy was presented to each member of the victorious team that won the Munster Senior Colleges final. A social was sponsored by the P.P.U. for the Senior Citizens of the town and locality. A mass for deceased teachers and past-pupils of the school was offered in the school during that year. Also a very successful pantomime was held that year.

There was a pantomime also in 1979 and sadly the P.P.U. was inactive for the following two years until its revival in October of '82, which saw a New Committee being elected as follows: President: Rev. Fr. Pat Scanlon C.C.; Chairman: John Browne; Vice Chairman: Niall Murphy; Hon. Sec.: Gerard O'Connor; Hon. Treasurer: John Vaughan; P.R.O.: Pat O' Connell; Committee: Kevin Corcoran, Mort Kelleher, Jim Cooney, Donal Lucey, Donal Buckley, Pat O' Riordan, Declan Allen, John O' Conner, Liam Fitzgerald, Liam Walsh.

It must be stated that alot of behind the scenes work has taken place by certain people over the years and it would be unfair not to mention one of the most outstanding members of the P.P.U., its Hon. Sec. and later its President the late John Reardon who was a member of the teaching staff of the school. He helped to keep the P.P.U. going during its first years and was nearly totally responsible for the Production and Scripting as well as being one of its principle actors in the pantomime. It would be unfair to conclude this item without paying tribute to all the past pupils who have given of their time to the P.P.U.. We mention especially our past presidents who have gone to their eternal reward. They are Tadgh Murray, Denis Coughlan, Joe Buckley and John Reardon.

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