New 600-page book to mark the centenary of the Presentation Sisters in Athenry

Those sunny days of the 1970s — the infant class pictured with Sr Celestine in the mid 1970s.

By Kernan Andrews

A remarkable 600-page full-colour book marking the centenary of the Presentation Sisters’ arrival in Athenry, and their educational contribution to the town and the wider area, will be launched this weekend.

This Saturday at 2.30pm in the Presentation College, Athenry, The Story of the Presentation Sisters, Scoil Chroí Naofa and Presentation College, Athenry (1908-2008), edited and compiled by Gerry Ahern will be officially launched by Galway Bay fm head of News and past pupil Bernadette Prendergast.

Past and present pupils, teachers, members of the boards of management, and the public are invited to attend the event which is expected to be the largest school reunion ever held in East Galway.

The book which was compiled after two year’s work is very impressive and runs to more than 600 pages and was designed and printed by Castle Print, Galway.

It also contains a social history of Athenry, 1910-2008, listing all the principal events in the town and parish

A limited edition of the book will be available at the launch this Saturday and it will be general sale from next week.

It contains a list of all the students who attended the Presentation Schools in Athenry since 1908 and also contains hundreds of photographs and anecdotes from the schools’ history.

This unique and historical publication will be of great interest to thousands of present and past pupils and the general public in the parishes of: Athenry/Newcastle/Derrydonnell, Ryehill/Monivea, Gurteen/Ballymacward, Attymon/Kiltullagh/Killimordaly, Kilconieron, Craughwell/Ballymana, Clarinbridge, Carnmore, Lackagh/Turloughmore, Cregmore/Coolarne, Crumlin/Ballyglunin and Ardrahan/Labane.

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