Page 12 - Gonzaga in the 1970s
P. 12
Expansion of the School
In 1971, with the changes in Irish education looming
large, Fr Cecil McGarry SJ, Provincial, set up Interim
Boards of Management in each of the Irish colleges to
oversee their development. Gonzaga’s Board had to
address the considerations already outlined above.
Under Fr Delaney’s management the
doubling of numbers in the senior school went ahead,
with the obvious implication that a building
programme would have to be undertaken. The short
term solution to the question of accommodating the
extra classes was to house the Prep School in prefabs
placed in front of what is now the administration
building. Many schools resorted to the same solution,
and teaching and learning conditions were far from
comfortable or even healthy.
New buildings – the first since the boys’
chapel
By the time Fr Delaney left Gonzaga to join
the professorial staff of Milltown in 1974, the
decisions about the future of the school had been
made. His successor as headmaster, Fr Dermot
Murray SJ, was faced at once with the prospect of a
building programme. Collaborating with him in the
work ahead were the Superior of the Gonzaga
Community, Fr Cormac Gallagher SJ, who was also
chairman of the Interim Board, and the recently
appointed Bursar of the college, Fr Fergus O’Keefe
SJ. Fr Bill Lee comments: ‘These three men made a
marvellous team. Even using words with care, I
11
In 1971, with the changes in Irish education looming
large, Fr Cecil McGarry SJ, Provincial, set up Interim
Boards of Management in each of the Irish colleges to
oversee their development. Gonzaga’s Board had to
address the considerations already outlined above.
Under Fr Delaney’s management the
doubling of numbers in the senior school went ahead,
with the obvious implication that a building
programme would have to be undertaken. The short
term solution to the question of accommodating the
extra classes was to house the Prep School in prefabs
placed in front of what is now the administration
building. Many schools resorted to the same solution,
and teaching and learning conditions were far from
comfortable or even healthy.
New buildings – the first since the boys’
chapel
By the time Fr Delaney left Gonzaga to join
the professorial staff of Milltown in 1974, the
decisions about the future of the school had been
made. His successor as headmaster, Fr Dermot
Murray SJ, was faced at once with the prospect of a
building programme. Collaborating with him in the
work ahead were the Superior of the Gonzaga
Community, Fr Cormac Gallagher SJ, who was also
chairman of the Interim Board, and the recently
appointed Bursar of the college, Fr Fergus O’Keefe
SJ. Fr Bill Lee comments: ‘These three men made a
marvellous team. Even using words with care, I
11
