Page 80 - The Gonzaga Record 1988
P. 80
Being introduced to Gonzaga by Richard Rice. We went to Miss Carr's
together but he had gone on ahead of me to Gonzaga. With his
assistance I was quickly put in the picture. Friday evenings at An
Chomhdhail and one particular Friday when we learned as we arrived
that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Cycling endlessly up and
down Cowper Road over the bridge and back again - with Kevin Kenny,
Richard Rice, David Fassbender and Tom Lenihan. Racing home at
lunchtime to hear the Kennedy's of Castleross. Terence Liston leaving for
Clongowes. David Fassbender's 'Mug Mugis' answer to Fr Keane when
asked the word for cup. Fr Keane's immediate retort that he hadn't asked
him what he looked like. Playing on the same tennis team as my brother
J ames and David and Tony Ensor. Climbing the beech tree in the front
sports field and embedding our initials in the topmost part of the trunk.
The soccer league on Sunday, and donning the special Clonskeagh
Dynamo jersies made for us by Ned D'Arcy's mother.
Backwards and forwards images tumble vividly and then fade. Joe
Veale's enthusiastic communication of Vatican Il. Allowing us to
question parish sermons and freeing us from the unhealthy aspects of
Iri sh Catholicism. Starting the process whereby we could begin to
distinguish our own desire from that of our parents. Jim Feeney's request
for volunteers for St Bernard's Youth Club in Cabra. The profound shock
of that first night in the playground at Quarry Avenue. Shattering the
comfortable world of Cowper Road. I wondered at the huge gap between
Rathmines and Cabra West bridged only, it seemed then, by the No 12
bus on which I returned home. Inspired by the example and generosity
of Ted Farrell, Ned D'Arcy, Jim Feeney, the late Donal Casey always close
to Gonzaga, as they ran football teams, organised outings, summer
camps, and one famous trip to Spain. It was sometime later that I
became aware of Hollyfield Buildings in the heart of Dublin 6, a slum
where the living was different.
And on to Gorevan's in Camden Street with my father for the football
jersey. Happily wearing it into the Pembroke Nursing Home for my
mother and Maurice '5 days and 10 pounds'. Brother Ronan getting to
the finals at Fitzwilliam the summer he couldn't get a place on the school
team. Sean Byrne's encouragement and special training methods. Ray
Kearns' great classes on American politics. Being riveted by Dara
Corcoran's story about the seagull. Finding a free way into the Savoy
Cin ema with David Murphy and Barry Bresnihan and making a run for
it th e ni ght we were finally caught. Arriving in Donnybrook late one
afternoon to find Gonzaga leading Blackrock in a Senior Cup Match and
that glorious moment when Jerry smashed his way to victory in
Fitzwilli am. But I di gress and go beyond and back again to Leslie Webb,
school captain, poet and composer, cricketer reading Freud in fourth
year.
As l write l wonder about the possibility of accurate recollection. Had
I bee n asked to do this twenty or even ten years ago would the same
78
together but he had gone on ahead of me to Gonzaga. With his
assistance I was quickly put in the picture. Friday evenings at An
Chomhdhail and one particular Friday when we learned as we arrived
that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Cycling endlessly up and
down Cowper Road over the bridge and back again - with Kevin Kenny,
Richard Rice, David Fassbender and Tom Lenihan. Racing home at
lunchtime to hear the Kennedy's of Castleross. Terence Liston leaving for
Clongowes. David Fassbender's 'Mug Mugis' answer to Fr Keane when
asked the word for cup. Fr Keane's immediate retort that he hadn't asked
him what he looked like. Playing on the same tennis team as my brother
J ames and David and Tony Ensor. Climbing the beech tree in the front
sports field and embedding our initials in the topmost part of the trunk.
The soccer league on Sunday, and donning the special Clonskeagh
Dynamo jersies made for us by Ned D'Arcy's mother.
Backwards and forwards images tumble vividly and then fade. Joe
Veale's enthusiastic communication of Vatican Il. Allowing us to
question parish sermons and freeing us from the unhealthy aspects of
Iri sh Catholicism. Starting the process whereby we could begin to
distinguish our own desire from that of our parents. Jim Feeney's request
for volunteers for St Bernard's Youth Club in Cabra. The profound shock
of that first night in the playground at Quarry Avenue. Shattering the
comfortable world of Cowper Road. I wondered at the huge gap between
Rathmines and Cabra West bridged only, it seemed then, by the No 12
bus on which I returned home. Inspired by the example and generosity
of Ted Farrell, Ned D'Arcy, Jim Feeney, the late Donal Casey always close
to Gonzaga, as they ran football teams, organised outings, summer
camps, and one famous trip to Spain. It was sometime later that I
became aware of Hollyfield Buildings in the heart of Dublin 6, a slum
where the living was different.
And on to Gorevan's in Camden Street with my father for the football
jersey. Happily wearing it into the Pembroke Nursing Home for my
mother and Maurice '5 days and 10 pounds'. Brother Ronan getting to
the finals at Fitzwilliam the summer he couldn't get a place on the school
team. Sean Byrne's encouragement and special training methods. Ray
Kearns' great classes on American politics. Being riveted by Dara
Corcoran's story about the seagull. Finding a free way into the Savoy
Cin ema with David Murphy and Barry Bresnihan and making a run for
it th e ni ght we were finally caught. Arriving in Donnybrook late one
afternoon to find Gonzaga leading Blackrock in a Senior Cup Match and
that glorious moment when Jerry smashed his way to victory in
Fitzwilli am. But I di gress and go beyond and back again to Leslie Webb,
school captain, poet and composer, cricketer reading Freud in fourth
year.
As l write l wonder about the possibility of accurate recollection. Had
I bee n asked to do this twenty or even ten years ago would the same
78
