Mary Immaculate College (MIC) welcomed just over 100 graduates from across Ireland and further afield back to the College on Saturday, 3 October, for its annual Alumni Reunion. It brought together former students to reconnect, reminisce and celebrate their enduring connection with MIC.
This year’s reunion celebrated graduates from the classes of 1956, 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016, with alumni travelling from as far afield as the United States, Brussels and London, as well as across the island of Ireland, including Limerick, Donegal, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, Dublin and Belfast, to attend. Among those returning were eight members of the Class of 1966, who marked 60 years since completing the former two-year National Teaching Course at MIC. Professor Dermot Nestor, President of MIC, welcomed the returning graduates in an opening address, expressing his gratitude for their enduring connection to the College and the important role generations of alumni have played in making MIC what it is today.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was a roaming microphone session, which travelled between the different class groups and allowed graduates to share memories of their student days. Stories ranged from humorous recollections of college life to fond memories of classmates and friends who have since passed away, with many reflecting on the friendships forged at MIC and their gratitude for the time they spent at the College.
For Jim O’Connell, who graduated in 1996, the reunion was an opportunity to reconnect with classmates while celebrating friendships that have endured for three decades:
“I was here from October 1993 to June 1996, and we had a great time. I’m here with the boys that I’m still friends with 30 years later. I lived with them during college, and we meet up every year. We’ve met some of our classmates today that we haven’t seen in a long, long time, and it’s great to be back. There’s a bit of nostalgia around the place, so I’m really enjoying it.”
Throughout the afternoon, graduates were treated to afternoon tea and had the opportunity to browse an exhibition of photographs from MIC’s archives, offering a nostalgic look back at the College and student life through the decades. Current MIC students also led campus tours, allowing alumni to revisit familiar places and see how the College has changed and developed since their time as students.
Watch the MIC Alumni Reunion video below
