2011 Beaufort Annual Dinner report

The Beaufort Annual Dinner continues to grow each year as the word spreads far and wide. This year past pupils literally flew in from many parts of Europe to be at the dinner. The Annual Dinner is a great way for us "Beaufort Girls" to come together and have a guaranteed fun-filled evening. The Annual Dinner is also a great way of catching up on old school acquaintances and renewing friendships.

The President of the 2011 Beaufort Past Pupils Annual Reunion, Mary O’Gorman (nee D’Arcy, class of 76) extended a very warm welcome to everyone. The Grange Golf Club kindly provided us with a pre-dinner drinks reception and thereafter 152 ladies (Grange Golf Club Full Seating Capacity) sat down to a three course dinner. Just before dinner commenced Sr. Noelle Corscadden the Provincial Leader of Loreto Ireland said "Grace".

Guest Speakers
There were a number of Guest Speakers on the night. First to speak was the well known and much respected RTE Mid-West Correspondent Cathy Halloran (Class of 1978) who entertained the room with her trip down memory lane as she gave us an insight into the Beaufort of 73-78. Sincere thanks to Cathy for taking time out of her very busy schedule to be with us on the night.

Next up to speak was Margaret O’Donoghue Principal of Beaufort. Margaret spoke about the "Beaufort of today" and unquestionably the facilities in the school are far superior to those that many of us remember. It was also interesting to hear about the various current extra school activities that are available to all students. Clearly Loreto Beaufort is in very good hands with Margaret at the helm.

Our final Guest Speaker on the night was Maire Muldowney (nee Mangan class of 1962) who coincidentally happened to be the 2011 Lady Captain of the Grange Golf Club. It was most certainly special and memorable for Maire that the Annual Beaufort Past Pupils’ Dinner took place on her watch. To say she was “hilarious” would be an understatement!! Maire literally brought the house down with her stories of Beaufort in the late fifties/early sixties.

Overheard at the Annual Dinner
You will all have heard the famous "Overheard in Dublin" series of quotations. Well on the night of our Annual Dinner there were a few classic Beaufort Overheards:
"You haven’t aged a bit, in fact no one in the room has".
"Do you remember Sr. Pius Berry’s mantra…..keep to the left, keep to the left."
"I remember now, your mode of transport was a Triumph bike".
"What about all those very cool 6th years that used to sunbathe on the Tennis Courts with their skirts rolled up!!! – Legends"
"Mobile phones? We survived without them all the same".
"What about poor old’ Paddy the Caretaker and his dog blackie?"
"The early 80’s, back in the days when we all got excited by the new all weather pitch!"
"We trained before school running up and down the avenue, then played hockey during lunchtime - all of this was done in our uniform shirts - and we remained in them till 4.10pm when we went home!!!!"
"Do you remember the tons of chalk on Conso’s gown? – yes but it’s only later in life that I realise what a brilliant maths teacher she was - she was a true Beaufort ledge".

Conclusion
On the night there was a Raffle held to raise much needed funds for Loreto Rumbek in Southern Sudan where Sr. Noelle and the Loreto Order are very much involved in a building project to educate young Sudanese Loreto girls. Thanks to all of you who dug deep and supported this very worthy cause.

There is no doubt about it, we Beaufort Girls know how to party and enjoy ourselves - and party and enjoy ourselves we certainly did. At 4.10am the last persons were escorted off the Grange Golf Club premises into waiting taxis. It will come as no surprises to know these late revellers were, ????????????.... Oh and that’s another thing we Beaufort Girls are good at "what happens at the reunion stays at the reunion"
The 2011 Annual Beaufort Past Pupils’ Dinner was a roaring success, it is very clear this Past Pupils’ Dinner is now firmly fixed as a permanent annual outing for us "Beaufort girls".

Until out next annual outing on 14th September 2012 - Slan

Regards,
Beaufort Past Pupils’ Committee 2011