RAY'S AMAZING PICTURES

A year or so ago Ray Simms sent me a couple of photos which I thought were just amazing.  Well, me being me (not a computer expert!), I managed to lose the photos somewhere in cyberspace.  It took me until now, and with the encouragement of my dear friend, Betty, who happens to be Ray's niece,  to pluck up courage to admit my loss to Ray and ask him to resend the photos.  The ever understanding and obliging Ray responded immediately.  So I am delighted to post Ray's photos today but first I must fill you in with a little of the background. 

Sr M Imelda taught Commercial at St Patrick's for many, many years.  Then when Holy Heart of Mary opened, Sr Imelda was transferred to that new High School.  She served there until her retirement to Presentation Mother House, Cathedral Square. Such was Sr Imelda's reputation among St John's firms, that she received requests from them for her graduates to fill their vacancies. 

Although in its early days, St Patrick's had taught boys and girls, in later years it became an all girls' school. However, many young men wished to avail of Sr Imelda's expert tutelage so, until sometime in the 1950s, Sister's classes were open to young men wishing to learn office skills. One of those young men was Ray Simms.

Ray has given us the names of the boys in this great photo. 

Sr Imelda's Commercial Class (click on the photo to enlarge)

L-R: Harry Farrell, Bob Kieley, Tom Finn, Francis Evans, Aiden McCarthy, Ray Simms

Ray has also promised to try to identify the young ladies in this photo, so, watch this space! 

Sr Imelda's Commercial Class (minus the boys)

Thank you Ray for these wonderful photos and for your patience with this not so great techie! If you would like to tell us about your days at St Patrick's with Sr Imelda, I would be more than happy to hear your story. Again, thanks for everything, stay safe, and God bless you and yours.

This next photo isn't one of Ray's.  As I don't have a picture of Sr Imelda, I am posting one of her resting place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Sr Imelda's grave in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

A TREASURE FROM 1942

Does anyone know why a post suddenly goes missing from a Blog?  On 24th May 2015, I posted this great picture of Holy Cross Confirmation Class, circa 1942/43.  Very few of the boys were identified so, sometime later, I was delighted to be contacted by Ray Simms with some wonderful information.  Ray is one of the boys on this photo and he was able to identify just about all the boys pictured. On 15th May 2017 I re-posted the photo again with the new information.  Then I added the  link for the Blog Post to our facebook page.  Now for the mystery!

Several months ago, Ray's son, Danny, contacted me saying that he was unable to find the new post with the names, although there was a link for it.  The photo and a link back to the Blog Post is definitely in the Holy Cross Album on our facebook but, strangely, the link leads back to a page that tells us it does not exist.  Mystery or what?

Holy Cross Confirmation Class 1942

This picture is a real treasure and to have most of the names is an added bonus so I am re-posting the photo with all the names supplied by Ray. 

Back Row: J Hickey, E Parsley, B Fanning, J Whelan, R McGrath, F Kavanagh, F Gough, R Simms

Row 3:  C Ennis, P Miller, R Kavanagh, D Baird, T Brewer, J McAllister, R Whelan, B Parrell, C Carew, Br Drayton

Row 2:  B English, J St George, J Greene, C Penney, B Whittle, A Fitzgerald, D Molloy, B Kielly, L Hickey, C McKay

Front Row:  J O'Brien, ??, P Murphy, J Cleary, B Evans, J Barron, R Morrissey, J Baird, C Baird, J Walsh, P Roynayne

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed that this post will 'stay put' both here and on our facebook page!

Once again, my thanks to Ray Simms and to his son Danny.  Keep well, Ray, and please keep in touch.

DRAWN FROM MEMORY

This post will bring back some memories for a lot of people.  I am posting a  sketch of St Patrick's Convent School, Deanery Avenue.  Many of us were pupils at this school, which was built as a memorial to the boys and men of St Patrick's Parish who gave their lives in WWI.     This beautiful drawing was done, from memory,  by a former pupil of St Patrick's, Kay Simms McCormack .

One of eleven children, Kay Simms was born in 1932 to Bill and Louise Simms, prominent and well respected members of St Patrick's Parish.  Many will recall the concerts at which the dancers and singers were accompanied on the piano by Mrs  Simms.  In the 1930s and 1940s Kay and her three sisters, Dot, Betty and Jennie, all attended St Patrick's Convent School.  One of Kay's brothers, Ray, also attended St Patrick's where he took Commercial.  It seems the norm that friendships forged as children at St Patrick's last a lifetime. Kay is no exception as she still cherishes the friendships and keeps in contact with some of her school friends. 

A SKETCH OF THE DEANERY AVENUE SCHOOL,
DONE FROM MEMORY BY KAY McCORMACK

Kay loves to sketch but her niece, Betty Simms,  tells me that she is also a very talented painter.  For this lovely additiion to our School Blog I am very grateful to my good friend Betty Simms and to her amazing Aunt, Kay Simms McCormack.  Long may you continue to paint and sketch, Kay, and we would be delighted to see more of your work.  Thanks very much and may God bless you.