West Bar puts on a show for Jarlath's class of '83

FORTY years after they left the dorms of St Jarlath's College in Tuam, the class of 1983 met up for a class reunion in the West Bar and Restaurant in Westport.

Forty members of the class of 1983 in St Jarlath's College in Tuam recently travelled to Westport for the class reunion with some travelling from as far as San Francisco for the happy occasion.

For many years, there was a long standing tradition of young men from Westport going to the famed Tuam football nursery for their second level education. St Jarlath's is the Alma Mater of Martin Brennan, the proprietor of the West Bar and Restaurant and he did not let his Tuam alumni down by pulling out all the stops to make the evening as enjoyable as possible.

Westport native, Pat Downes, who is the chair of the St Jarlath's reunion committee, told The Mayo News that it was great to see so many old classmates, many of whom he had not seen since the days they left school.

“It was a very pleasant night and in fairness to Martin he produced some lovely food in a spectacular venue upstairs looking out on the Mall.

“It was interesting because for five years you had a very formative period while living cheek by jowl with a group of boys who you got to know very well. They were effectively your brothers and they will always be your brothers. We all said the same thing and it was as if no time had passed. We were all comfortable with each other and had a good laugh for the night. Everyone recognised everyone through the grey hair and the pot bellies. It is an interesting experience meeting men you haven't seen in 40 years and knowing them instantly. It was a lovely occasion.

“We lost a few along the way and we reflected on those who could not be with us. It was poignant because we left as young men 40 years ago not knowing what the world would hold for us. The 80s were a bleak hard time and was very grey and a lot of the lads emigrated at that time. We had two lads who flew in from San Francisco and some from New York and Cleveland and all over especially for the reunion while at the same time some living in Westport literally walked around the corner to attend. It was a lovely get together,” said Pat.

Pictured above in the The West Bar and Restaurant in Westport were, back row, from left:

Ray Brennan, Diarmuid O'Riordan, John McGrath, Fr Pat Farragher, Liam Dunleavy, Edmond Jennings, Cormac McNally, Willie Golden, Alan Fox, Martin Slattery and Fergal King,

Middle row, from left: Barry Finnegan, James O Connor, Meicheál O’ Donohoe, Declan Conlon, Ambrose Feeney, Damien O Neill, Martin Davis, Paul Munroe, Aidan Tierney, Christy Mitchell, Alan Talty, George Delaney and Padraic Brogan.

Front row, from left: John O'Connor, John Fallon, Frank Coleman, Cathal Sheridan, Patrick Downes, Gerry Niland, Pat Luskin, Pat Kenny and Pat Corcoran. Pic: Conor McKeown