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Finding Brother Fergus by Mike Fitzgerald

In March I went to Dublin with some friends to see the rugby international between Ireland and England. After a very enjoyable weekend four of us decided to stay on for an extra week and tour Ireland, I thought this would be an excellent time to try to find Bro. Fergus.

We set off for the centre of Ireland, the only address I had was Tyrells Pass, Co. West Meath. I called at the local post office in Tyrells Pass and asked if anybody knew a person called Fergus. After long deliberations with most of the village I was directed towards a small cottage on a hill. I knocked on the door of the cottage and after a few minutes went around the back and there was Bro. Fergus digging away.

After several minutes he recognised me and invited us into his home. Opening a large bottle of sherry we spent the day talking and reminiscing about the school and former pupils, brothers etc. He was very pleased that we had reformed the Old Egbertian Association and said that he missed the school and was now looking forward to meeting up with other old boys.

The day passed quickly and eventually it was time to go. Bro Fergus is still the same character he used to be and the years have not altered him in any way. He comes to England occasionally and he would like to come to one of our re-unions. I obviously said he would be most welcome.

As I drove away I realised that he and the other brothers had given us a lot more than just education and I know that as the old boys association grows we will understand just how much we enjoyed our stay at St. Egberts.

 
 From Denny Lalonde

 

I found your website and was tickled pink to have the chance to add to the site through this e-mail address.
This message might end up being a bit long, I hope you don't mind. I was a student at St. Egeberts from September 1941 to Xmas 1946. I'll list some of the Brothers I remember, if the spelling is incorrect please forgive, it was a LONG time ago.
Brother Isidore, Head Master,  Brother Peter,  Brother Hugh, Brother Thomas (my favorite), Brother Aloysis, (?) Brother Celsus, Brother Aiden, Brother Raphael and of course Mr. Kilcoyne who was my teacher, as was Brother Peter.
 
I can recall an accident that occured to Michael Tierney (fellow student) when we were in the big house on Crescent Road. There was a wrought iron fence in the front of our school house. It was anchored into a concrete base about a foot high. Michael was standing with his feet between the vertical iron rods, and slipped, he jammed a spear topped part of the fence up into the skin underneath  his chin. He bled badly and Brother Peter and me and some other boys lifted him off the railing and he was taken to the hospital. He was back at school in a few days but none of us ever did THAT again.
 
We used to play on a large old log across from the 'house' in the green area of the forest, we called it "The Jolly Roger"
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Some of the pupils I recall are: John Silk, (a good chum of mine), Roger Drew, Michael Pollock, Anthony Burgoine, Johnny Baker, Noel Bray, Brian Whitting, Jimmy Jewell, Harold Keeler, and ?? Anderson.
I would like to think that Roger Drew remembers me, and any of the others I have listed.
 
If you wish, In the coming days, I will send you copies of our class photographs, I have them in an album somewhere, I'll look them out and forward them to you if you wish to add them to the site or newsletter.
 
I would be pleased to hear from any of my 'old chums' from those days. Time marches on and being in my mid 70's now it's more precious than ever.
Best regards to you, the committee and continued success with the site, it's great !