St Colmcille’s Boys National School, Templemore - Confirmation Class of 1973.Back row: Paudie Hoctor, Dermot Donovan, Michael Bourke, Pat Kearney.Second row: Philly Brennan, Laurence O’Toole, John Bermingham, Henry Byrne, Noel Fogarty. Third row: Br Ryan, Bill Guerins, Jimmy Maher, Martin Brennan, Joe O’Mear a, Joe Heffernan, Fr Egan. Fourth row: Johnny Bergin, Sean Corcoran, Joe Ryan, Michael Ryan, Ger O’Meara, Donal Clarke, Pat Treacy. Front row: Joe Mockler, Francis Cummins, Larry Newe, Garry Regan, Tommy Fogarty, Dermot Deane, Austin Purcell, Pat Allen.

Templemore Confirmation boys, 1973

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When Confirmation took place in St Colmcille’s National School on Church Avenue in 1973, it marked the first time that a single boys class from Templemore received the sacrament. Prior to this (from what records are available to us), Confirmation only took place every three years meaning Fourth, Fifth and Sixth class all converged on the Sacred Heart Church on the same day.

These were big days for the town with 85 boys from Templemore alone receiving their confirmation on April 23rd, 1967. Among those confirmed that day were brothers Larry and Joe Hennessy, Enda and Eamonn Sheppard, Tommy and Dick O’Keefe, Paddy and Andy Dowling, Larry and Kevin Wolahan, Willie Crowley, Tom Fennell, Mickey Revins, and John Bannon.

This marked the last occasion that boys were confirmed from the old National School on Main Street (beside Wilson’s). The new St Colmcille’s opened on Church Avenue in 1968 with the first Confirmation taking place on May 3rd 1970. 63 boys were confirmed that day including Eoin Wolahan, Jimmy Laffan, Aidan D’Estelle-Roe, Paddy Clavin, Pat Fogarty and Joe Foy to name but a few. We have yet to unearth a group photo for either of those years.

By the time the next Confirmation was due in 1973 the decision was taken that Sixth Class boys only would be confirmed and that Confirmation would take place annually thereafter. This continued up to and including 2007 before becoming a biennial event thereafter. Thankfully we have the 1973 photo along with 1974, 1975 and 1977. So if you made your confirmation in 1976, 1978 or 1979 we’d love to get a copy of your group photo.

Similarly if you were confirmed in 1981, 1982, 1984 or 1990, we’d like to hear from you. The aim is to gather as many group photographs as we can so if you can help us out please contact Ronan Loughnane on 087-7931721 or via email at ronan.loughnane9@gmail.com.

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