PPU President, Brian Duncan, presented the P V Doyle Trophy to Row Person of the Year 2017 Fr. Myles Kavanagh CP (see NEWS BLOG December 15th 2016) at the PPU annual dinner on Saturday January 28th. at the Westbury hotel. In his acceptance speech Fr. Myles started by quoting the words of James Connolly “the weakest link is ignorance” and he proceeded, in a riveting address, to remind his audience of the important contributions made by people like Nano Nagle, Catherine McAuley, Mother Mary Aikenhead and Blessed Edmund Rice in breaking the chain of ignorance, which made slaves of the people of Ireland, in their times and later. Fr. Myles said that attending a Christian Brothers School like Westland Row inspired him to become a priest.
Fr. Myles concluded by presenting a cheque for €10,000 from the Flax Trust America to school Principal Kate Byrne. President ,Brian Duncan, congratulated Fr. Myles thanked him for his extremely generous contribution.
Many thanks to Patrick Dowling of Rock Photography who, as usual, took many excellent photos on the night. A few are included below and more will follow in later News Blogs.
All smiles – Fr. Myles presents cheque to Principal Kate.
Fr. Myles wows the audience
Jack Phelan, Ney Kindlon, Tony Ryan, Alan O’Connor Snr and Alan Jnr listen to the President
Paddy Coyle, O’Connells, Sean O’Connell,St. Josephs and Damian Byrne line up with Row President Brian Duncan.
Director of Finance, Michael O’Sullivan, Merchandising Director, John Cullen work their magic on Brian Whelan
Mary O’Callaghan (sister of Fr. Myles) watches admiringly as President Brian Duncan presents the P V Doyle Trophy)
Brothers in arms John and Brenard Murray sample the local brew.
President and Robin Delaney, Transition Year student. Robin and Juan De Vivero told of their experiences in Transition Year and we all wished we could go back and enrol in the Row again.
Fr. Myles, President Brian and veteran MC Frank Whelan look happy with their lot.
Maurice Culhane and PPU Chaplain, Fr. Eugene McCarthy. Fr. Eugene is a colleague of Fr. Myles in the Cross and Passion order and also works in Belfast. we are indebted to Fr. Eugene for nominating Fr. Myles for Row Person 2017.
