A NORTHSIDE secondary school, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has organised a special event to mark its illustrious history in athletics.
St Aidan’s CBS in Whitehall, which opened in 1964, is currently organising a range of sporting and social events to celebrate the milestone.
In addition to its students’ academic achievements, St Aidan’s is also renowned for its great successes on the sporting front, particularly in athletics, both cross country and track and field.
To mark 50 years of athletics, St Aidan’s, in conjunction with Clonliffe Harriers Athletic Club in Santry, is organising a special day at Morton Stadium on Saturday, October 11 (3.30pm) – a St Aidan’s 2-Mile track race for past and present athletes.
Chief organiser Alan O’Neill, present day coach to the St Aidan’s athletics squad, said it will be a great occasion in Santry.
“Over the 50 years of St Aidan’s athletics literally thousands of boys wore the famous red and white singlet in schools competition,
? Mr O’Neill told Northside People.
“We are reaching out to any past pupil who wore the St Aidan’s singlet to come to Santry on October 11 for a fun 2-mile race, or indeed if the fitness is not up to two miles on the track, come along and enjoy the social occasion.
“It will present an opportunity to meet your school buddies from all those years ago, to catch up, have a laugh and enjoy the memories.
?
After the race there will be a social get-together in Clonliffe Harriers’ club lounge, with presentations, a photographic exhibition and plenty of time for catching up with old school friends.
“We are hoping that as many past pupils who competed for St Aidan’s will turn up on the day,
? said Mr O’Neill.
“This is an event which we have been planning for some time. Needless to say, it is next to impossible to contact everyone.
“I am asking anyone who was in St Aidan’s to help spread the word. Anyone who wants to come along and compete on the day, or indeed just come along to meet up, is more than welcome.
?
If interested in attending this event, email elvi_213@hotmail.com
Over the years St Aidan’s has produced many champion athletes including Mick Byrne who is now head coach in America’s top athletics college, Wisconsin; Eamon Tierney, who holds the record for the fastest ever St Aidan’s past pupil over the marathon distance of 2.16.07; the Greene twins, Johnny and Martin; Noel Daly who held the Irish Schools 800m record for many years; Derek Watters, Mark McDonald and Eoin McDonnell who dominated the middle distance track events during their time at St Aidan’s; and the school’s most recent All Ireland track champion, Ian Guiden who won the All Ireland 5000m title in 2013.
The greatest ever athlete to come through the school was Niall Bruton. When the Santry native left St Aidan’s he went on scholarship to the United States and developed into a world-class athlete winning the famed Wannamaker Mile in New York and representing Ireland at the pinnacle of sport, the Olympic Games. Bruton reached the Olympic 1500m semi-final in Atlanta in 1996.
Former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, competed on the very first St Aidan’s cross country team in 1964, while others to don the red and white singlet included Dublin football captain and All Ireland winner Paul Clarke, Leinster strength and conditioning coach, Danny Tobin, and actor Jason Barry who starred in
‘Titanic’ and played
‘Dano’ in
‘Love/Hate’.