Athlone school appeals for memorabilia ahead of 50 year anniversary
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Athlone Community College is appealing for memories and artifacts as the school prepares to celebrate 50 years in Retreat Road.
The school first moved from Northgate Street to its current location on Retreat Road for the academic year of 1974/1975.
As it prepares to celebrate the milestone, the school is appealing for photos, old uniforms, and fond memories shared by past students and staff at the school.
Teacher Serena McDermott said: "We'd also love to interview students who were in the class of 1974/1975, as they were the first group of students on this site.
"It's hard for us to find the names of those students, as all names and information is now private due to GDPR. However, if you were in school within those first ten years after the school moved to Retreat Road, we would love for you to get in contact with us."
The school is creating a generational tree, with students creating a tree of all the family members that have attended school in Athlone Community College. They are also appealing for past students to get involved if they have had an extended family history in the school.
Ms McDermott also emphasised that the school is looking for both formal and informal photos and memories from past students.
"People might think because it's a school that we only want those formal photos - but we also want the fun photos, the funny memories, those things that show what it was really like to go to school in Athlone Community College," she added.
As well as displaying memories from the past, the school also hopes to leave something for the future in the form of a time capsule.
Students will place letters and other artifacts inside of a capsule, which will then be buried for future staff and students to uncover in the years to come.
Ms McDermott said: "We will be taking a walk down memory lane, celebrating both the past and the present achievements of the school, and all the changes that it has gone through. We want to show how the school has evolved throughout the years."
If you have old uniforms, yearbooks, photos, or any other artifacts that you would like to share from your time in Athlone Community College, get in contact with the reception at Athlone Community College in person, via email at info.acc@lwetb.ie, or by phone at (090) 6472625.