A Brief History of the Past Pupils Union

St. Finian's Past Pupils Union (PPU) was started sometime in the early 1930's and seems to have been a limited social invitation based in Dublin. It appears to have been suspended during the Emergency Years (1939 to 1945). No records have been found detailing its activities when the present PPU was being re-established.

In the late the 1950's and early 1960's the St. Finian's Senior Gaelic football team was making good progress in the Senior Colleges Championship. A number of past pupils would travel to support the team, and at these meetings the past pupils conversations seemed to centre around the college and what each person was doing now and where their colleagues were. Around this time the idea of reforming the PPU was mooted but nothing was done at first.

In 1960 the PPU was re-established following a meeting held in Dublin. The objective of this meeting was to contact as many past pupils as possible and explore the possibility of re-establishing the PPU. A number of follow up meetings were held in various locations in and around Dublin that resulted in the setting up of a 'steering committee'. This steering group compiled a list of all past pupils including contact details. A large number of these past pupils were invited to an inaugural meeting, which was held in the Spa Hotel Lucan in the autumn of 1960. Over two hundred attended the meeting that resulted in a PPU president, officers and committee being elected.

The first President of the re-launched PPU was Michael Hillard TD, then a government minister. Tom Grennan and Peter Farrelly were elected Honorary Secretaries. Committee members included: Fr. L. Lynch, P.J.Clarkson , Joe Gavin, Kevin Wallace, Tom Donlan, Patsy Mc Gearty, Frank Dunne, Dick Mitchell.

The new committee drafted a constitution and rules for the Union and Dr. Kyne (then Bishop of Meath) agreed to be patron of the Union. Branches of the Union were set up in Dublin and Meath - attempts were made to set up branches in Offaly and Westmeath without much success. Despite this the Union still attracted members from these counties. The Dublin branch was particularly strong and attracted many members working in and around Dublin along with students in U.C.D. and other third level colleges holding monthly meetings in various venues. The Counters Bar in Townsend Street, Dublin (since gone) was a popular meeting place. The Meath branch operated out of Navan with John Smith, Paddy O'Rourke, Tommy Murphy and many others actively involved.

In the early years the Union prospered, attendances at the A.G.M.'s reached about two hundred. Annual Dinner/Dress dances were held at various venues in Dublin. Golf outings took place at Royal Tara and Headford. Close connections with the College were maintained during this time; however, offers of Career Guidance seminars in the college were resisted for a long time. The college authorities did however direct individual students to contact PPU members to discuss possible career paths with them.

In the early seventies, interest in the Union waned due mainly to lack of purpose. At an A.G.M in Navan, a motion to disband the Union was put to the meeting. When this was being debated the then College President, the late Fr. Jim Deignan, asked for the Union's help to raise funds to set up a modern students Library in the College. This was agreed, the Union was saved and 'Project Library' was set up.

Over the next few years, fund-raising events were organised including raffles and social functions to raise the required funds. A new era in co-operation between Past Pupils and the College was formed, and this still exists today. Career Seminars are organised on an annual basis where past pupils return to the college to provide the final year students advice on the career paths to choose. Part of this event is holding mock interviews and providing feedback to the students on areas for improvement.

These and other events are proving very worthwhile to all those involved, and further strengthen the bonds between past pupils and those passing through the college at present.

Past Presidents of the P.P.U

Name Year

Michael Hillard 1965 - 1966

Dr. Dan O'Brien 1967 - 1968

Kevin Wallace 1969 - 1970

Michael Regan 1971 - 1972

Simon Deignan 1973 - 1974

Larry Travers 1975 - 1976

Gerry Renehan 1977 - 1978

Tom Menton 1979 - 1980

Rory Coghlan 1981 - 1982

Gerry Twomey 1983 - 1984

Tommy Murphy 1985 - 1986

Colm O'Reilly 1987 - 1988

Peter Farrelly 1989 - 1990

Hubert O'Reilly 1991 - 1992

Eddie Newman 1993 - 1995

Tony Cawley 1996 - 1997

John Travers 1998 - 1999

Paul Reynolds 1999 - 2003

The Past Pupils Union Today

Honorary President: Paul Reynolds
Honorary Secretary: Eanna Greene

If you wish to contact the Past Pupils, please click here: ppu@stfinianscollege.com

Name	Year
Michael Hillard	1965 - 1966
Dr. Dan O'Brien	1967 - 1968
Kevin Wallace	1969 - 1970
Michael Regan	1971 - 1972
Simon Deignan	1973 - 1974
Larry Travers	1975 - 1976
Gerry Renehan	1977 - 1978
Tom Menton	1979 - 1980
Rory Coghlan	1981 - 1982
Gerry Twomey	1983 - 1984
Tommy Murphy	1985 - 1986
Colm O'Reilly	1987 - 1988
Peter Farrelly	1989 - 1990
Hubert O'Reilly	1991 - 1992
Eddie Newman	1993 - 1995
Tony Cawley	1996 - 1997
John Travers	1998 - 1999
Paul Reynolds	1999 - 2003