Page 71 - Gonzaga at 60
P. 71
FIVE OPERAS
Union Dinner 2006
The Union Dinner of 2006 was of considerable
interest not only for the fact that the guest
of honour was the siing Taoiseach, Berie
Ahern.
Well briefed, and delivering a prepared
speech with good humour and luency, he
cited details of the school’s foundaion, its
signiicant igures (as usual, he had heard
litle of a lay staf, unless they happened to
have been leading members of his party) and
the contribuion by Gonzaga and the Jesuits
generally to Irish society, poliical, professional
and arisic.
A quick reply by Patrick Pots, in which
he made the case to the Taoiseach and his
government for the educaional richness of
the classical languages, and Mr Ahern let for
another engagement.
More interesing by far were the noises of.
It was one of those moments of frozen relaions
between coaliion partners and the media
were camped at our gates, well aware that the
two party leaders would be dining together in
Gonzaga. Invited members of staf had gathered
expectantly at the pre-dinner recepion to
observe the behaviour of the two leaders.
Ahern was there irst, but failed to take
advantage of the higher ground. His estranged
coaliion partner, Michael McDowell (class of
1969), stole in behind him and tapped him
suddenly on the shoulder. A start, a look in the
wrong direcion, and a it of mutual giggles
– and Ireland’s latest poliical crisis was over.
Union Dinner 2006
The Union Dinner of 2006 was of considerable
interest not only for the fact that the guest
of honour was the siing Taoiseach, Berie
Ahern.
Well briefed, and delivering a prepared
speech with good humour and luency, he
cited details of the school’s foundaion, its
signiicant igures (as usual, he had heard
litle of a lay staf, unless they happened to
have been leading members of his party) and
the contribuion by Gonzaga and the Jesuits
generally to Irish society, poliical, professional
and arisic.
A quick reply by Patrick Pots, in which
he made the case to the Taoiseach and his
government for the educaional richness of
the classical languages, and Mr Ahern let for
another engagement.
More interesing by far were the noises of.
It was one of those moments of frozen relaions
between coaliion partners and the media
were camped at our gates, well aware that the
two party leaders would be dining together in
Gonzaga. Invited members of staf had gathered
expectantly at the pre-dinner recepion to
observe the behaviour of the two leaders.
Ahern was there irst, but failed to take
advantage of the higher ground. His estranged
coaliion partner, Michael McDowell (class of
1969), stole in behind him and tapped him
suddenly on the shoulder. A start, a look in the
wrong direcion, and a it of mutual giggles
– and Ireland’s latest poliical crisis was over.
