On Friday 9th February Ocs and honoured guests of the society gathered at the college for The Old Campbellian Society Annual Dinner.

Having taken over as President at the AGM earlier in the week, President Julie Brown (7062) welcomed guests from our brother and sister schools, the Headmaster and Head Prefect, Honorary OCs as well as Honoured Guest, award winning comedienne and playwright, Nuala McKeever. 

OCs from all generations have commented on a wonderful evening, the quality of speeches and in particular how entertaining Nuala McKeever was.

It was an evening of many notable instances -

1. The first Lady President -  one of only 38 Lady OCs who attended the college in the late seventies, early eighties.  She is the daughter of Fred Parkes (Hon OC) who taught at the college for 32 years, was Housemaster of Davis's and the driving force behind the success of the swimming team for decades.  Julie went onj to become the first Irish female swimmer to qualify for the Olympics (1984).
2. 17 Past Presidents were in attendance at the evening, with an 18th, Dermot Sparrow (4425), representing The Society at The Clongowes Annual Dinner
3. We think it may be the first time we have had a female guest speaker (but we are happy to be corrected if we're wrong!)
4. It may be the first time the Head Prefect has presented the President with a bunch of flowers and given them a kiss!  and finally....
5. When Richard Burden (6958) was the guest speaker in 2020 he spoke of a family tradition whereby a place would be set at the table for those that were no longer with us, for those that we held dear, that we missed and wished could have been with us for the occasion.  On Friday 9th February,  The Old Campbellian Society set a place at the top table, knowing that it would not be filled.  That place was Fred Parkes (Hon OC), who would have been so proud and delighted at his daughter in being the President.  

Please view the gallery.