Christmas Message.
Hi all.
I hope everyone has had an amazing 2024 and you’re looking forward to a bit of a break over Christmas to give that sense of renewed vigour for 2025. I would like to thank each and every one of you that helped out in some form throughout the year – whether by way of a financial donation, attending events or through using your own area of expertise or network in putting a fellow past pupil in touch with a solution to whatever issue they were facing.
The Copper Beech Trust has had a very busy year, as 2024 was not so amazing for everyone.
The type of help that the Trust has provided people with during the year has, as always, been wide & varied. In each case, the help that was provided, through your support, has made an enormously positive difference to their lives. Thank you again.
I would like to specifically call out a huge thank you to Ed Cotter (Class of 1982) & Robert Ryan (Class of 1983) who just consistently deliver and provide help and support to the Trust. As do many others, including Elaine McKenna, who is always available at the end of a phone if the Trust needs anything at all, the Headmaster, Mr Damon McCaul, and Claire Reid for their support in allowing the Trust to host various events in the College. Also the help of the Union President, Mark Taheny – The support that the Union gives to the Copper Beech Trust is invaluable.
The Trust has hosted a few events during the year (Thank you Jane Kennedy for your people gathering skills!), designed primarily to make the more recently graduated alumni aware of the support that is there for them and, to be frank, expected of them in the years to come. #amanforothers isn’t just a tag line.
I would also like to pay a particular note of thanks to Colm O’Rourke (Class of 1992) and his amazingly talented team of tech types at Capaciteam.com, who designed, developed & covered the cost of the new Copper Beech Trust website – Copperbeech.ie.
If you, or someone from the Gonzaga community that you know of, are experiencing any difficulties, whether financial or otherwise, particularly as Christmas approaches, please get in touch. A solution and help is available. Every single approach to the Trust is dealt with in the strictest of confidence. Email confidential@copperbeech.ie and someone will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
Finally, I am thrilled to announce that a certain Mr Claus (yet another thanks to Ed Cotter!) will be in attendance at the very popular Past vs Present rugby match on Wednesday 18th December. Match kick off is at 5pm, but Santa will be handing out treats to all of the younger kids and there will be hot drinks & nibbles available in the atrium from 4pm. It would be great to see as many of you there as possible.
Please come along to this event. It’s a fantastically festive end of year event that includes the entire Gonzaga community and highlights the importance of the Copper Beech Trust and the work that it does. Not one of the people that the Trust helped during 2024 thought that they would ever need the help, but they did and it is through your support that this help can be provided & continue.
Thank you all again & best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a happy & healthy 2025.
Brian Whelan (1992)
Copper Beech Trust.