President: Beatrice Doran

Vice Presidents: Niamh Gourlay (Halpenny) and Gay Rodgers
Hon. Secretary: Claire Johns (Doyle)
Hon. Treasurer: Ann Harper

Committee: Sr. Barnabas, Mary Buckley (Deane), Felicity Coll (O’Brien),  Clare Coonan, Valerie Cox (Fitzpatrick), Katherine Duffy (Fox),  and Helena O’Dowd

Update your diary for 2012 -  Click here for EVENTS

Find us now on FACEBOOK – click on this link

Click on any heading for more details

Please read our Muckross MailOnce you become a PPU member you will automatically receive the Muckross Mail in the post – so join today.

If you forgot to renew your membership in 2011 please contact us now if you wish to remain on the mailing list.

2012 – The Centenary of the Past Pupils’ Union

To celebrate 100 years of the PPU in 2012 we are planning a Book of Memories which will be edited by Valerie Cox, a former President of the Muckross Past Pupils’ Union and the founder of the Muckross Mail.   She is working with other past pupils including Patricia O’Reilly, Helen Litton, Brenda Moore-McCann, all published authors in their own right, to produce the centenary book.

 If you have any memories and stories you would like to share or have any memorabilia or photos which could be included in the book, please contact Valerie Cox at 087-685 8406 or email muckrossppu@ireland.com . We are also anxious to contact our oldest past pupils – maybe you know someone who left school in the forties or fifties? We will be grateful for any information you can provide.

There is also the question of finance.  We are considering sponsorship and so we would love to hear from you if you know someone who would like to be immortalised in this fashion.  We expect this book to be available for some years to come and to become a treasured possession, an heirloom even, for the girls – and even some boys -who attended school in Muckross.  If you can think of a suitable sponsor – please put us in touch!

 We want to celebrate this major anniversary. This is YOUR union, so if you have any ideas about how we can mark our centenary please contact any member of the committee

Information, Ideas and Suggestions to Valerie Cox at valacox@eircom.net or telephone on 087 6858406.

Our popular WRITERS WORKSHP will take place on Sat. 24^th March from 2 – 5pm (venue to be arranged). Author and past pupil PATRICIA O’REILLY will run the workshop giving you an insight into how to get started or improve your writing. We are delighted to announce that author and broadcaster DEIRDRE PURCELL will be our guest speaker. Tickets €10 for PPU members and €15 for non-members. To book please send a cheque (payable to Muckross PPU) plus your contact details to Muckross PPU, 33 Hazel Avenue, Kilmacud Road Upr, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

 Class Reunions

The class of 1982 are having a 30 year reunion at the Annual Dinner on 27th April. Fiona Walsh, Eadaoin Ni Chleirigh & Margaret McEvoy (Foyle) want to hear from all who are interested. How about the classes of 1962, 1972, 1987, 1992 & 2002 – why not have your anniversary reunion there also? Contact muckrossppu@ireland.com for more details

More events to be announced – watch this space !

Monthly PPU Mass

School Chapel

Takes place at 11.15am in Muckross Park on the First Sunday of February, March, April, September, October*, November** and December.

Bring along your husband, children, boyfriend, anyone! Mass in the chapel is followed by refreshments. (*October – Annual  Mass for the Combined Dominican Schools Unions  and ** the Mass in November is offered for all deceased past pupils).

MARCH 2012

Union Day & AGM – Sunday 4th March 2012 in Muckross Park
Mass at 11.15am is followed by the AGM and refreshments. As we are planning for the Centenary of the PPU in 2012 we hope lots of you will attend the AGM to hear about how we will celebrate 100 years of the PPU. If you want the PPU to continue for another 100 years please come and support.

Writers Workshop

Our popular WRITERS WORKSHOP will take place on Sat. 24^th March from 2 – 5pm (venue to be arranged). Author and past pupil PATRICIA O’REILLY will run the workshop giving you an insight into how to get started or improve your writing. We are delighted to announce that author and broadcaster DEIRDRE PURCELL will be our guest speaker. Tickets €10 for PPU members and €15 for non-members. To book please send a cheque (payable to Muckross PPU) plus your contact details to Muckross PPU, 33 Hazel Avenue, Kilmacud Road Upr, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

APRIL 2012

Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday 1st  April 2012 from 12 – 1pm in Muckross Park.  Please book IN ADVANCE by email.

***Please note that a guardian must be in attendance at all times***

ANNUAL DINNER – Friday 27th  April 2012

In the Stillorgan Park Hotel at 7.30pm.  If you have an anniversary year in 2012 then why not book a table and arrange your class Reunion at the Centenary Dinner. The PPU have some class lists if you need them – email for information. Advance booking and payment essential – email us for a Booking Form.  Telephone bookings will NOT be taken. The draw for our 2012 raffle will take place at the dinner. Prizes to be announced soon.

JULY 2012

Combined Dominican Unions’ Golf Society – Annual Outing
In Naas Golf Club in July 2012. – Date to be confirmed. Contact Ann Quinlan at 087-239 5772 for bookings.
The last time Muckross won this competition was 1993 so let’s get a good team out there for 2012!

SEPTEMBER 2012

Muckross Golf Society – Annual Outing
Thursday 13th  September 2012 in Edmondstown Golf Club, Rathfarnham.    For info. contact Lady Captain Moya Williams (Forde) by email to paulandmoya@gmail.com or 087-239 0658. You are welcome to bring along guests.

If you don’t play golf come and join your classmates for the dinner.

OCTOBER 2012

Combined Dominican Unions’ Mass
The annual Mass for the past pupils of ALL Dominican schools in Ireland takes place in the chapel in Muckross Park, Marlborough Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 on Sunday 7th  October 2012 at 11.15am. Mass in the chapel is followed by refreshments. If you know anyone who attended Ballyfermot, Cabra, Dun Laoghaire, Eccles St/Griffith Ave, Falls Road, Fortwilliam, Muckross, Portstewart, Santa Sabina, Sion Hill, Taylors Hill or Wicklow or any Dominican school please let them know and bring them along.

NOVEMBER 2012

The PPU monthly Mass on Sunday 4th November 2012 will be offered for all deceased past pupils.

DECEMBER 2012

Santa Party

The Santa Party will take place on Sunday 2nd December 2012 at 12 noon in Muckross Park.  Advance booking is essential so Santa knows how many presents to bring for everyone. Only 40 places available so priority will be given to past pupils whose membership subscriptions are up to date.

**Please note that a guardian must be in attendance at all times***

The 2012 Annual Dinner will take place on 27th April in the Stillorgan Park Hotel.  If you are celebrating 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 years since leaving Muckross we hope you will have your class reunion at the dinner. As we will be celebrating our centenary this will be a really special occasion.

The class of 1982 are having a 30 year reunion at the Annual Dinner on 27th April. Fiona Walsh, Eadaoin Ni Chleirigh & Margaret McEvoy (Foyle) want to hear from all who are interested. How about the classes of 1962, 1972, 1987, 1992 & 2002 – why not have your special anniversary reunion there also? Contact muckrossppu@ireland.com for more details

 1^st Prize: 2 nights BB+1D mid-week break for 2 in Westport Plaza Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo  – to Katherine Duffy (Fox, class of 1971)

2^nd Prize: 2 nights B&B mid-week break in Meyrick Hotel, Eyre Square, Galway   - to Anne Coyle (Conroy, class of 1965)                   

3^rd Prize: 1 year’s drama class for 1 child (age 3.5 to teens) from Emer Halpenny School of Drama – to Joy Riordan (class of 1956)

4^th Prize: €200 Voucher for Brown Thomas  - to Rachel Egar(Browne, class of 1984)    

5^th Prize:  Dinner for 2 in Purple Sage Restaurant at the Stillorgan Park Hotel          - to Caroline Grant (class of 1981)

6^th Prize:    €50 Voucher for the National Concert Hall – to Seamus O’Dunlaing (class of 1941)

The Playschool Projects  in Cape Town, which are run by Dominican sisters, are one of the projects to benefit from the generosity of Muckross Past Pupils’ fundraising. Our donation to them last year ensured that the children got one full meal every day.

Pictured right: Etafani playgroup at Mkonto