ATHY, 8 August 2002: by Brian Byrne. A reunion of students of Athy CBS is to take place in the town on the weekend of Friday 20 September, organised the Class of 1960 members Michael Robinson and Seamus Ryan. Michael is now in Brisbane, Australia, and Seamus is in Beijing, China, and they are coordinating the event through the website www.lostschoolfriends.ie
The reunion events will include a photo exhibition in Athy heritage Centre, a reception for past pupils in the Leinster Arms Hotel, a golf and a pitch-and-putt competition, and a cruise on the River Barrow.
There will be a Civic Reception on the Saturday afternoon in Athy Council Chamber, and this will be followed by a reception in Scoil Eoin. The Reunion Dinner is being held in Kilkea Castle Hotel.
On the Sunday, there will be a remembrance ceremony and a tree planting in the school, and participants will then be free to 'visit classrooms, play conkers, and run up and down the stairs like a manic teenager'. Those considering such activities should be careful, as 'photos and videos of the weekend activities will be on sale' during a farewell reception scheduled for Ardreigh House on the Sunday afternoon.
Full details as they emerge will be posted on the www.lostschoolfriends.ie website, which was set up to cater for former Irish students around the world. Almost 40% of its rapidly expanding membership is now based from places as far away as Bolivia, Beijing, Korea and Kansas.
