Balloonagh’s Class Of ’94 Remember Their ‘Salad Days’

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Olga Enright, Tralee, Angela Fitzgerald, Tralee, Joanne McGrath, Tralee, Maureann Keenan, Tralee at the Balloonagh Class of 1994 reunion on Saturday night. Photo by Danielle Courtney

Olga Enright, Tralee, Angela Fitzgerald, Tralee, Joanne McGrath, Tralee, Maureann Keenan, Tralee at the Balloonagh Class of 1994 reunion on Saturday night. Photo by Danielle Courtney

By Danielle Courtney

The Woolyheads as Sr. Jacinta called them, aka Balloonagh’s 1994 class, reunited after two decades last Saturday in Stoker’s Lodge to reminisce on their days together in the Mercy school.

The reunion has been really 18 months in the planning and it all came together beautifully on the night.

The ladies of today – looking very elegant – were a world away from those who stood all those years ago, outside Mrs. Rice’s office, with green and red traffic lights outside to let them know if they could come in or not when they’d done something wrong.

We won’t name names, but this class was a handful I was told, with escapades including – being caught mitching on a hot September’s day out the Fenit road, receiving a week’s suspension from the school, accidentally striking the teachers with snowballs, and a few bloody noses and black eyes, mostly part of the theatrics of their musical stagings.

Everyone was nostalgic for the debs in Ballyroe, and the musicals ‘Salad Days’ and ‘West Wide Story’, having been the first school to perform in the newly renovated Siamsa Tíre.

Mrs.O’Donnell having passed away since, was remembered fondly by the girls for organising the musicals with Mrs Crowley.

Mr Raymond their science teacher was a special favourite of the girls, having given grinds to many which helped pass the Leaving Cert, who is noted for having not changed a bit since their schooldays.

The ladies enjoyed a few drinks and a meal after such a long period of separation and some travelled from all over the country to be there.

The night resounded with laughter at the many stories told, too scandalous​ to be recorded here.

Ladies from the Balloonagh Class of 1994 gather at Stoker's Lodge on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

Ladies from the Balloonagh Class of 1994 gather at Stoker’s Lodge on Saturday night. Photo by Danielle Courtney

Elena Courtney, Castleisland, Fiona Kenny, Kilkenny, Laura Ryan, Athlone and Imelda O'Brien, Tralee, at the Balloonagh Class of 1994 reunion at Stoker's Lodge. Photo by Danielle Courtney

Elena Courtney, Castleisland, Fiona Kenny, Kilkenny, Laura Ryan, Athlone and Imelda O’Brien, Tralee, at the Balloonagh Class of 1994 reunion at Stoker’s Lodge. Photo by Danielle Courtney

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