The Sisters of St Louis celebrated 74 years of service to the community in Castletown, the wider Dundalk hinterland and beyond on Saturday 27th January.
The Convent and school welcomed past pupils from every decade on Saturday morning, including individuals and groups who attended as Boarders and day pupils in the 1950s!
Many travelled from the UK and beyond to pay tribute to the Sisters and the excellent education they received during their time in Dun Lughaidh. Old classmates embraced with joy and surprise and the years fell away as they met on corridors or in the Chapel Hall.
St Joseph’s Church, Fatima was full to capacity as Sisters of St Louis from across the country, past pupils, past staff, neighbours and current staff congregated to give thanks for the loving service of the many Sisters who lived and worked in the St Louis Secondary school, their primary school in Castletown House/ Hamill’s, Scoil Eoin Baiste primary school and in community projects, over the years.
Past pupil and current Principal of Gaelscoil Dhún Dealgan , Anne Quinn, played the organ beautifully leading the congregational singing. Bishop Michael Router, Auxiliary Bishop of the Arch Dioceses of Armagh con-celebrated the Mass with local PP Fr Vinod Kurian and brother priests for the SNA Fathers in Dromantine and Fr Brendan Callanan from the local Redemptorist Monastery. Sr. Uainín Clarke, Irish Regional Leader welcomed all the guests and paid tribute to the work of the sisters since 1950.
Sr Anne Murray read the first reading, a sister who worked in Dundalk and was one of the founding members of Le Chéile Schools Trust, the patron of St Louis schools and De la Salle since 2010.
Prayers of the Faithful were read by Kevin Smyth, fundraiser for convent and St Louis Missions in West Africa; Leah Kennedy current head Girl of St Louis Secondary school; Mary Gilmore, Deputy Principal; Freda Carville, St Louis Associate, Dundalk; Clodagh O’Mahony, one of the founders of the Cox’s Demesne Youth and Community project and Méabh Ní Uallacháin, Sister of St Louis Blakestown.
Sr Pat Ojo, St Louis Institute Leader Worldwide, read the reflection after communion. Local representatives from Fatima Estate & the Parish of Faughart took the opportunity to acknowledge the work of the sisters and presented them with flowers and a framed print, at the end of the Mass.
The visitors moved to the Carrickdale Hotel for a wonderful lunch. Entertainment was provided by a host of current & past pupils & staff who were eager to demonstrate their love and gratitude for the Sisters and honour the four women of faith and courage who were leaving Dundalk for Dublin in February: Sr Siobhán; Sr Bernardine; Sr Hannah & Sr Sinead.
2nd yr Student Jaymie Martin serenaded with her traditional harp during the meal and was followed by thirty members of the Oriel Traditional Orchestra.
The Orchestra’s Musical Directors are past pupils Noreen McManus ( Class of 1980) & Adele Commins (1998) and many of the musicians have direct links with the school including including Lorraine Quigley past pupil, teacher & past principal and Kevin Wynne, Chair of the Board of Management (2012-2023).
In fact seven of the players were past pupils or current students!
The entertainment continued with performances from the current TY class performing “ Who will Buy” from the musical Oliver which is in rehearsal for March 2024, talented Soprano Ciara Casey ( Class of 2011) sang Ave Maria like an angel! A Classical Quartet played next, showcasing the talents of Caroline Manning (1998) Aisling Mannings & Roisin Dooley (2003) Mary Jane Sweeney (2008). Three generations of the the dance school Scoil Ui Chongaile, under the direction of Carmel Connelly ( Class of 1977) danced two pieces: seven of Carmel’s grandchildren danced the first piece while two generations danced together in the second dance from Feet of Flames: Michelle( 1997); Catherine 1998;Sarah ( 2000) Emma (2003) Sinead ( 2006) Megan current student Class of 2024 Jaymie Martin ( current 2nd Yr) and two students who will join St Louis in Sept:Grace Reilly & Kayla Martin.
Past Teacher of Music Irene Barr took to the stage with her daughter Alison (2001), Lynsey O’Neill (2003) Briege McGoldrick ( 1984) Sinead Lambe McDonnell ( 1984). They played a beautiful medley of tunes familiar to the Sisters: Over the Rainbow, Fly me to the Moon, Moon River and When I’m 64 and had the audience tapping and singing along.
Hilary Barr ( Teacher 1981-2013) added a moving rendition of St Patrick’s Breastplate, as gaeilge, for Sr Siobhán Dillon who is a great scholar of Latin & Irish and she enjoyed it immensely. A short presentation recalled the four sisters who founded the convent in 1950 and some archival records reported the impressions of Dun Lughaidh, the voices of the original pupils and sisters echoing down the decades!
The final items of the night were a medley of show tunes from Lorraine Quigley followed by a rousing rendition of a Dun Lughaidh song composed in the 1970 by Sr Dympna and resurrected for the night by a group of past pupils who sang it with great gusto!
The school and convent management have been inundated with positive feedback from guests about their experiences on Saturday. While we wave a sad goodbye to our wonderful Sisters of St Louis, we know their strong legacy of excellence in all endeavours will continue to influence the future of the thriving school and its students.
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