May 31, 2014 at 10:25 am

Balloonagh Girls Reunite After 65 years

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THERE was a lot of catching up to do at the Kerins O’Rahilly’s Clubhouse on Friday night when the Balloonagh girls (and boy) got together again.

Pupils of Balloonagh Primary School who attended from 1947-1959 reunited to share memories from those days.

Margaret Sweeney and Lol O’Halloran got the ball rolling for the reunion back in January and when Lily O’Rourke Moloney responded to a text message from one of them, she too got involved.

“Margaret and I were on Facebook and we met for the first time in 60 years yesterday,” said Lily. “It’s the primary school reunion of pupils between 1947-59. It’s lovely, I’d know a few of the girls here, many of them are still living in Tralee. There are three over from England, one from Dublin and another from Listowel.”

The ladies put together a lovely memento booklet for the evening with old photos and even a class of 1947 photo from the archives of The Kerryman.

The reminiscing continued long into the evening as the ladies caught up on stories from the old school.

A group who attended the Balloonagh School Reunion of pupils 1947-59 at the Kerins O'Rahillys Clubhouse on Friday. Front from left; Lol O'Halloran, Ann Smith, Mary Shannon, Joan Hobbert, Lily O'Rourke Moloney, . Margaret McSweeney Thompson, Nora Sweeney Holstead. Back from left; Helen Curtin, Jean O'Halloran, Eleanor Power, Ann Dowling, William Seeler, Peggy Ashe, Nora Ashe, June Sweeney, Betty Healy Kelly, Gloria Healy Newman. Photo by Dermot Crean

A group who attended the Balloonagh School Reunion of pupils 1947-59 at the Kerins O’Rahillys Clubhouse on Friday. Front from left; Lol O’Halloran, Ann Smith, Mary Shannon, Joan Hobbert, Lily O’Rourke Moloney, . Margaret McSweeney Thompson, Nora Sweeney Holstead. Back from left; Helen Curtin, Jean O’Halloran, Eleanor Power, Ann Dowling, William Seeler, Peggy Ashe, Nora Ashe, June Sweeney, Betty Healy Kelly, Gloria Healy Newman. Photo by Dermot Crean

 

 

 

 

3 Comments

  1. lol O'Halloran (walters) says:
    June 2, 2014 at 10:46 am

    Dear Friends, It was a fantastic opportunity to take part in a reunion of our old school friends with a gap of some 65 years.Thanks you all for making this evening so memorable.

    With Best Wishes

    Lol O’Halloran (Walters)

    • Anne Dowling Lacey says:
      June 6, 2014 at 10:45 pm

      THAnks Lol and Margaret for a lovely evening.

      • Margaret (Mc Sweeney-Thompson) says:
        June 8, 2014 at 2:43 pm

        Hi Anne, It was so lovely seeing you and all the Girls/Boy. Sorry I did not get to talk to you more, I would have like too, but the night went so quick, It was a great evening, and I think everyone enjoyed it, tg
        It was lovely meeting your husband Eddie, tell him I would have like to talk more to him, about his wonderful Racing days, It was just lovely to see you, and all,
        Maybe catch up again when I am home, all being well pg,
        Thanks for your comment, so appreciated,
        Love Margaret,,, just about to phone Lol, xx

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