Longford school time capsule opened after 25 years

A time capsule that was sealed in Moyne Community School on December 15, 1999 was opened on Monday of this week to coincide with the school’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
The capsule was compiled by a group of Leaving Cert students of the class of 1999-2000, around the time of the Millennium.
The capsule was opened by school principal Des Cullen and teacher Paddy McPhilips in front of a group of first years of the school.

Mr Cullen spoke to the assembled first years about the capsule and its significance.
He also referenced the changes that have taken place in those 25 years.
“The students who compiled the time capsule didn’t have mobile phones, Whatsapp or Instagram. Letters were still written and posted,” he stated.

“It was a very different world. Many people had just four channels on their TV. There was no Netflix. People had to watch programmes when they were on TV. They couldn’t record programmes,” he told the students.
He went on to explain to the first years that they could now play their part in this experiment.
“You are being asked to do something interesting. Whatever you put in the capsule will be put back on the wall with your contributions in it,” he commented.

Mr Cullen went on to tell the students that “people generally leave this school with good memories” and that “we hope that you leave like that.”
Mr Cullen also read out a letter to the students that was written by James MacNerney, who retired as principal in 1997.
Mr MacNerney’s letter was written at the time of the capsule being completed.

In the letter he wondered, “what will the world be like in 2024, given the pace of technology and social change?”
“25 years have flown by since Moyne Community School first opened in 1974. In January 1975, Fr. Phil McGee died. I succeeded him as Principal of the school. I retired in September 1997,” Mr MacNerney continued.
“The honour of sealing this capsule goes to myself. If I am still above ground, I may still be with you when it is opened (James is now 92),” he continued in the letter.

When Mr Cullen asked the students how many of them had parents who contributed to the capsule, a number of hands shot up.
This year’s capsule will be closed on May 22nd. Any student of the school can submit material. In addition, any parent of a student can write a letter.
The capsule will be placed back where it was, above a corridor of the school and it will be reopened on the school’s 75th anniversary in 25 years time. An interesting item in the capsule was a letter (one of many letters in it) which was written, in handwriting, by the then vice-principal of the school, Mr Michael Denning.

The letter was addressed to staff and students. “I have been Deputy Principal of the school since its formation in 1974,” Mr Denning.
A stand out sentence from his letter stated, “so-called information technology is gaining greater acceptance.”
The capsule also contained a cassette, apparently a mix tape of music compiled by students.
Among the names of first year students listed in the capsule were John Connell, the writer and Liam Heslin, who is now an actor.
The majority of the classes in the school contributed something for the capsule. This contribution included scrapbooks, videos, diary extracts and essays.

The fifth year students of 1999/00 each wrote a letter to themselves.
The ‘Leadership group’ that organised the time capsule included: Sarah Brady, Aine Brady, Emer McNerney, Peter Reilly, Eamon Sheridan, Angela Allen, Shane McNerney, Niamh Conefrey, Carmel Shaughnessy, Orla Martin, Edel Reilly, Allan McNerney, Deirdre Donohue, Glen Shanley, Barry Kennedy and Michelle Flood.

The teachers of the time who helped to coordinate the group included Paddy McPhilips and Linda McLoughlin. Laura McPhilips (Paddy’s wife) also worked with the group.
Moyne Community School continues to perform robustly. Current student numbers stand at 615.
There are over 120 first years and a similar number will join the school for the next school year.

Golden Jubilee

As part of the Moyne CS Golden Jubilee, the entire school is going to Emerald Park on Wednesday, May 1.
A Mass of Thanksgiving and Remembrance will be celebrated in the school gym by Dr Paul Connell, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois on Friday, May 3 at 7.30pm and past pupils, parents, relatives, and friends are all invited.
The Mass will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony to remember deceased staff and pupils.

This will be followed by refreshments in the school where exhibitions of old photographs and videos along with an exhibition of work by past pupils who are professional artists will be on display.
The Golden Jubilee booklet will be available to buy and letters from the capsule can be collected.

The following day, Saturday May 4 will see the school open from 12 noon until 6pm to allow past pupils come back and relive past memories, including the good times and the not so good times and they too can collect letters from the capsule.