Today

Summerhill in 2005

In September of 2005, I visited Summerhill for the first time in about 15 years. Not a lot has changed. They had painted the "new" building (then 35 years old), and boarded up the bottom of the classroom windows. Because there are no borders, all the dorms have been converted to other uses such as classrooms, art rooms, etc. The old dining hall is now a study hall. Much of the old building is badly in need of repair, plaster is peeling off the walls in many places. I was told that the diocese still runs the college, but is not keeping up with maintenance. In fact, I heard that they are "looking for a new college" (the new college is being built at this time in 2012!

I was lucky enough to bump into Austin Callaghan, who was still teaching after all these years, although he said he just teaches Maths now. I also got to say a quick hello to Brendan Duggan (now the Vice principal) and Gabriel Dunne. They told me Josephine Finan was also still teaching, although she has a new married name which I forget. Finally, I am pretty sure they told me Mrs. Kerins, Mick Kilcoyne, and Mr. McGowan are also still around.

While I was in Sligo, the Champion ran a story announcing the retirement of Peader O'Toole and I also learned that Pat Curley passed away a few years ago. The pictures below were all taken on September 23, 2005. I wish I had taken more, but hopefully this will give you a sense of the way things were in 2005

Enjoy!

Click on a photo to see a full size version.


The old building taken from the Father Flanagan Gym.	The old recreation hall that used to be home two several beat up table tennis tables. It's much narrower than I remember.	The dorm in which I lived. It was out this window that we played "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" through a loudspeaker and dropped a light bulb on the dean.

The "new" building sports a new paint job and they have added the name of the school to the facade. If you look closely, you will notice they hace also boarded up the bottom panes of the windows.	The dining hall has not changed one bit, except for the boarding up of the portals through which food and dirty dishes passed. I can still smell the boiled potatoes.	A sampling of the team photos located in the lobby of the Fr. Flanagan Hall. Upon closer examination, at least one of them incorrectly identifies the Connacht Champion basketball team of 1971-72. The team shown is from 73-74 I think.

Besides being painted one of the ugliest colours I've ever seen, the stage hasn't changed in 35 years. The old piano appears to be gone though.	At the other end of the hall, the basketball goal, appears to be exactly as we left it in 1972. I suppose they put up a new net once in a while as well.	Besides being painted the same colour as the rest of the school, the "Father Flanagan Assembly Hall" is showing its age. I neglected to take photos of the changing rooms and showers which are a mess.

Couldn't help snapping a photo of a door I entered many times along with the rest of my classmates. The new building is showing its age as well these days.	The courtyard around which the new building was built appears to have aged quite well. However, I never remember actually being allowed in it, do you?	Main doors. The windows just above were to one of the priests apartments, I think possible Christy Jones. I remember him allowing certain students in to listen to music from time to time.

I couldn't help noticing that the stairs that we all ran down to tea, or prayers, or out town, still look as new as they did back then. They are one feature of the school that have stood the test of time.	Although not many students frequented it, the Music Room played a very important role in my years at Summerhill. It was here that "Feedback" learned its first tunes and is a place I will never forget.	The front side entrance to the old building. The white double door on the right leads into the rec hall.