Castlerea Community School Class of 2000 Reunion - ‘The Masterplan’

The “Masterplan” is all coming together nicely this summer as Oasis begin their eagerly anticipated reunion tour.

I previously wrote about how their song “The Masterplan” was our anthem for our Leaving Cert Graduation Mass in the year 2000. Like the Oasis reunion, the Castlerea Community School Class of 2000 will reunite after 25 years in Garvey’s Bar, Ballintubber on this Saturday, July 19th at 8 p.m.. The reunion also acts as a fundraiser in aid of Cancer Care West in memory of our late great classmate Imelda Filan.

I regularly sat beside Imelda on the school bus home. While both of us were quiet and shy, at only 12 years of age, our paths were to cross many times into adulthood.

When I go to my childhood home, I still find it hard to comprehend that Imelda is unfortunately no longer going to walk through the back door and we stand for a good chat. I’m then comforted by the fact that the kindness, generosity, and personal stamp Imelda left locally will live on forever.

Looking back to the summer of 2000 I worked in Gilmartin’s Cash and Carry and loved every minute of it with my friends, classmates, and colleagues. There is no doubt that we worked hard and played even harder.

Our Leaving Cert grad night out was fast approaching, and I had left it late going to Newman Menswear for the tuxedo. After a quick visit I settled with Padraic on a tux with a red waistcoat, which had a jacket about three sizes too big for me. It’s no exaggeration to say that I had a set of shoulder blades that resembled one of the top picks from the NFL draft. I also knew P was trying to hold in the laugh while looking at this twig in a spacesuit in front of him. He really had no other options as I’d left it until the last minute. To be honest I really didn’t care, it was all about having a right good laugh with my friends.

On Tuesday, July 11th, 2000 we met in the Stagger Inn in Castlerea before we set off for our big night out. As the late Dick McDonagh was under pressure trying to get us all served, his wife Tini collected the empty glasses and had a word with a few of the messers “enjoy yourselves but look after yourselves.” 

The time came to move on and now I sat on Keenan's coach on Main Street, Castlerea outside the Stagger Inn waiting to set off for my much-anticipated Leaving Cert grad night in the Prince of Wales, Athlone. Ronan Keating's latest hit blared out over the speakers “Life is a Rollercoaster”. It’s not a song I’m crazy about but for some reason I knew that moment in time was going to stay with me for life. Fresh faced, young and full of nervous anticipation we departed for Athlone for our big night out, soon to face head on into our whole adult lives, which were still in front of us.

Twenty-five years on the opportunity has now presented itself for many of us to meet once again. A lot has happened and no doubt there have been many twists and turns in all our lives over the past quarter of a century. 

The rollercoaster of life has also ensured that my face isn’t as fresh or my hair as dark as it once was. Just like the oversized tux many moons ago, I don’t really care as I’ve a tremendous amount of gratitude for just being able to be here to attend, continue to experience life and have a right good laugh with some old school friends. After all, in the words of the two songs mentioned above “It's up to us to make the best of all the things that come our way” and “hey life is a rollercoaster, just gotta ride it.” 

I hope the Masterplan all comes together for our farewell reunion tour and that you “dance if ya wanna dance”.

Looking forward to meeting with many of you in Garvey’s Bar Ballintubber on Saturday, July 19th at 8 p.m. to enjoy a unique night out while remembering a special person and supporting a very worthy cause.

*A special thanks to all those who have put a tremendous amount of time into organising the night.