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“It was a very, very small classroom compared to today,” says Gay Conroy, one
“We are very grateful for the education we received – or, in some cases, endured – in St David’s. We recall each room in the original house, cleverly rotated by the ingenious school managers of the day: Sister Alphonsus, Sr Bernadette, Sr Gonzaga and Sr Claver. And the worker bees: Sister Vincentia, Sr Dolorosa, Sr Angela, Sr Lua, Sr Aquinas, Sr. Mercedes, Sr Fabian, Miss Lynch, Sr Austin, Sr Pauline, Sr Regina, Sr Mary of Good Counsel, and lovely Sister or Mother Christina.
Patricia Bateman, Marie Buckley, Sally Buckley, Gay Neary, Roseanna O’Connor, Marie Reynolds and Carmel Hayes… MON18AUG25
o say it was a simpler time at St David’s Secondary School – and 
Greystones in general – would be an understatement.
o say it was a simpler time at St David’s Secondary School – and 
Greystones in general – would be an understatement.The magnificent seven meeting this afternoon after 60 years had shared a classroom of just 17 students.
“It was a very, very small classroom compared to today,” says Gay Conroy, one 
of the main organisers of today, “and our class of 17 included 6 boarders.
of the main organisers of today, “and our class of 17 included 6 boarders.“Add to that the fact that many of us had been together in school since we were four years of age, and it was like you were part of a second family.
“Everyone knew everyone else in Greystones back then…”
Meeting up at The Pigeon House, there were strong memories to share this afternoon, from that little house on the prairie where St David’s began to the girl’s shared love of hockey, thanks largely to the coaching of the late Nora Smyth.
“Marie Buckley starred on our hockey team up to 1963,” explains Gay. “Exotic Roseanna O’Connor joined us from Canada for 2nd year; Marie Reynolds was with us in class, commuting from Bray every day from the age of 6 to11.
“Patricia, Sally, Gay and Carmel soldiered on till June 1965, when we sat the Leaving Cert along with 13 other classmates: Irene Ryan, Colette Sutton, Maura Kennelly, Lorna O’Connor, Anne Moran, Carmel Kiernan, Anne Moloney, Jean Browne, Eileen Herlihy, Finola Dunne, Marianne Tennet, Pauline Byrne and Bridget Hard.
St David’s Hockey champs 1962. Back: Sally Buckley, Finola Dunne, Maura Lane, Shelagh Kelly, Anne Maloney. Front: Marie Buckley, Eileen Herlihy, Carmel Kiernan. Source: Gay Conroy
“We were the most numerous -I dare not say biggest or largest! – Leaving Cert Class in St David’s up to that time. It really was a small school then, at a time when most girls were streamed towards the workplace after the Inter. The Inter was replaced by Junior Cert way back in 1992 or 1993, if I’m not mistaken.
“We are very grateful for the education we received – or, in some cases, endured – in St David’s. We recall each room in the original house, cleverly rotated by the ingenious school managers of the day: Sister Alphonsus, Sr Bernadette, Sr Gonzaga and Sr Claver. And the worker bees: Sister Vincentia, Sr Dolorosa, Sr Angela, Sr Lua, Sr Aquinas, Sr. Mercedes, Sr Fabian, Miss Lynch, Sr Austin, Sr Pauline, Sr Regina, Sr Mary of Good Counsel, and lovely Sister or Mother Christina. 
Not to mention the ballet teacher Miss Tully and our Irish dancing teacher, Mr Leonard too. We did well!”
Certainly the smallest St David’s reunion we’ve included on the Guide, today’s gathering might just be the sweetest too.
As these pics from the forever-young and ever-reliable John McGowan prove…
