DOMINICAN MISSIONS
DCPPU has all down the years provided some financial support for the work of the Dominican Missions undertaken by the Sisters in South Africa, Argentina and Bolivia.
Sr Deirdre O’Neill OP wrote of her work in South Africa in our 2013 Newsletter last year. A past pupil of Dominican College, Sr Deirdre worked in education. She set up the Catholic Education Office in Swaziland, and taught in the Little Flower Primary School, Uitenhage, and Marymount High School Uitenhage, where she was Bursar. She thanked us sincerely for the donations which we have sent to the Dominican House in Capetown over the years, which allowed her and other sisters to pass on the broad education they received in Eccles Street to the children of Uitenhage. She attended last year’s AGM and our Annual Lunch. It was a pleasure to talk to her and hear of her life and work on the Missions. Sr Deirdre died in Ireland in 2013 after an illness bravely borne.
Sr Áine Hardiman OP was born in Dublin in 1926. A past pupil of Scoil Chaitríona, Sr Áine went to Capetown as a young Dominican sister in the early 1950s, having graduated from UCD with a BA in Latin and Mathematics, and over the next sixty years was an inspiring teacher in Dominican schools, in addressing the injustices of the South African system of apartheid and upgrading the status of women in the townships. She first taught in the Dominican School for white children in Capetown, where she later became Principal. Later, working with other ecumenical groups she was the main inspiration behind the development of an Early Learning Resource Unit, which was to help bring an education programme to the African Townships. Together with the women of the Nyanga township, they developed a model for early learning education. The strategy was built on the strengths of the sisters and of the local people and their knowledge of how to quietly cross the barriers of severe political, economic and cultural restraints in order to build confidence and impart skills. She was to direct this township Early Childhood Project at great risk to her safety. Sr Áine had identified the scandal of apartheid and had fearlessly confronted it at the height of the Mandela protests in the 1980’s. She walked with the other sisters in the Free Mandela march in Capetown and was among those arrested. After a weekend in prison she was brought to a public hearing where she spoke so ardently about the oppression and injustice that characterised South African law and order that those who listened, including the prosecutor, were visibly moved. The case was dropped. Sr Áine died in Capetown in March 2013 where she is buried.
St Dominic’s Club 25th Anniversary Play 'The Dragon of Tangley Mountain', 1951
In 1966 Michael Viney made an RTE documentary ‘The Young Ones’ on the girls and the activities of the Club which was shown on television. Unfortunately the film deteriorated during storage and only the sound is available on the DVD obtained from RTE. In the 1970’s attendances began to drop off and the house committee had to deal with frequent break-ins and thefts. There was a shortage of past pupils available to help in the club. In 1978 the decision was taken to cease to operate the club for young girls and in 1983 for the young marrieds. The only Club activity remaining on the premises was the Old Folks Club. In 1991-1992 the executive committee agreed that the sale of the Club Premises in Hardwicke Street was unavoidable and the members of the Union voted endorsing this decision. The premises were put on the open market and purchased on behalf of the Vietnamese Irish Social and Cultural Association. Members of the Union overwhelmingly voted that funds from the sale of the premises be invested and the interest used for donations to the Schools and the Dominican Missions and for the administration of the Union.
DEBUTANTES BALL
In the late 1960s, the Dominican College Past Pupils’ Union organised the Debutantes Ball under the watchful eyes of Olive Clarke and Joan Gannon. A week or so before the Ball, the Debs and their escorts would be invited by the DCPPU to a rehearsal in the Hotel (Jurys) to assemble in correct order and practise walking the length of the ballroom and be presented to the President of the Union. On the night of the Debs, the Debutantes and their escorts would call in to Eccles Street to share their excitement with the nuns who had so long been a part of their lives, and with the boarders. They were much admired and photographed before setting out for the night they had so long dreamed of. As each debutante was presented to the president of the Past Pupils Union, she would give them a small gift, often a key-ring engraved with the Dominican motto and crest - a small memento of the evening. In the late 1980s the parents became more involved, and the responsibility was transferred from the Union to the Parents’ Association.
VolleyBall (Sr Isnard Memorial Cup)
Sr Isnard OP was the driving force in introducing Volleyball to the school in the 1960s. With her great dedication and enthusiasm the sport became very popular among the students. Played outdoors in the school yard at lunch hour, Eccles St was soon competing at European level, representing Ireland at the FISEC Games in Louvain (1965, 1967). Eccles St were the Irish Senior Champions in 1970, the year the Games were held in Ireland. They represented Ireland at both Junior and Senior level at the Games in Portugal (1973, 1975), and again won the Irish Senior Volleyball Championship. In 1980, Eccles Street had 3 teams and were National Junior champions. Soon after this, Volleyball became an indoor sport and enthusiasm waned somewhat. Enthused by their enjoyment of the game at school, the Past Pupils continued to play volleyball and fielded teams in competitions on leaving school. They were indebted to Sr Isnard for her help and encouragement and to Mother Prioress for allowing them the use of the school’s indoor sports facilities for their weekly training sessions in the evenings after work. Following the death of Sr Isnard in 1989, the Past Pupils’ Union were proud to donate the Sr Isnard Memorial Cup for the Schools Volleyball Tournament at Griffith Avenue.
Basketball
The Past Pupils Basketball Club, although short lived, had very enthusiastic members who were well coached by Joe Kavanagh. They played in 2nd Division Irish Basketball Association, and once in First Division. In 1966 they came third in the Ladies League (second division) and also third in the 'blitz' held in July of that year, and played several exciting matches the following year. Again, Sr Isnard encouraged the Past Pupils’ Basketball team, and thanks to Mother Prioress they were allowed the use of the indoor and outdoor courts for their weekly training.
Swimming Club
In 1933 the past pupils’ swimming club was established. Indoor instruction classes in swimming and diving, for both novices and improvers, were given in the Iveagh Baths until the end of June and then outdoors at Blackrock or Clontarf Baths until the end of September. Club night was Tuesday evenings, and in September 1942, the usual Annual Races, including a Handicap event and a Novelty race, were held. The President Mrs M Walsh presented the Swimming Cup and prizes.
Tennis Club
In 1930 a Tennis Tournament was first held at Woodbrook Club. In 1936 a Tennis Tournament was held for past pupils in Mountjoy Lawn Tennis Club but was unfortunately was washed out. Nevertheless the members held a Table Tennis Tournament and a great day was had by all with the profit of £6-15s directed to St Dominic’s Club. The following year the tournament was held in Howth Lawn Tennis club with forty present.
Hockey Club
This club was established in 1932 and had a membership of 38 in 1933 and 47 in 1935.
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