Pat Neill (class of 1973) was elected as PPU President at the AGM on March 27th. 2025. Pat was elected Row Person of the Year for 2020 and has served on the committee for a number of years. He is a keen golfer and a regular player on the ROW society outings.
Pat joined An Garda Siochana in 1974 and was appointed Detective in 1978 involved in the newly formed anti terrorist unit. He reached the rank of Inspector.
In 1997 Pat completed his academic education with the International Executive Master in Business Administration at Smurfit Business school.
Pat had a long and outstanding career with the Guards and then joined Dundrum Shopping Centre as Security Manager.
Pat was invited on to the Board of Board of Dun Laoire Chamber of Commerce in 2008. From May 2016 to May 2018 Pat served as President of the DLR Chamber of Commerce.
Pat, wearing the famous chain of office of President. Photo taken in Dundrum Shopping Centre where Pat works as Security Manager.)Outgoing President Dan Ferrari (class of 1973) presenting the chain to Pat.
Westland Row students invited to take part in Sail Training Course!
The pupils of CBS Westland Row are now on their Easter holidays, but for those students who hope to win a place on one of the upcoming Atlantic Youth Trust sail training voyages in May 2025, they may well be busy over the next two weeks.
Thanks to the efforts of Past Pupil Joe Ryan (Class of 1967),Atlantic Youth Trust (AYT) are offering three sail training places to Row students on board the magnificent vessel Grace O’Malley, KLEVIA (below).
The first trip takes place on May 5th next, and over 5 days will sail from Dublin across the Irish Sea to Wales, then the Isle of Man, on to Northern Ireland and back to Dun Laoire or Howth – all routes are subject to weather conditions on the day.
With the co-operation of the Principal, Kate Byrne, Joe recently arranged a meeting and presentation to senior students at the school, explaining the activities of AYT along with great news about bursaries which have been arranged to cover almost all the cost of the trips for the selected students. AYT was represented by their Chairman, Mr John Murphy and by the Operations Director, Mr Peter Scallen. Along with Joe, they spoke to an enthusiastic group of around 35-40 students about the role of sail training in developing life skills, resilience, and co-operation among the young people who take part in the trips.
Following the presentation, the students broke up into groups and discussed the skills needed for a successful voyage. It was agreed that Navigation, Steering, Chart Reading, Cooking, Cleaning, general communication skills, and co-operation would be essential. In order to help select three students for the trip, those interested were asked to submit reasons why they should be chosen, using either an essay, video, podcast, small work of art, or a short story! A deadline for submissions of April 28th was agreed, and the school along with AYT will work to select the three students immediately after that date.
School Principal, Kate Byrne introduces representatives of Atlantic Youth Trust to explain the project to the students.
Our Past Pupil Joe Ryan grew up in Sandymount, and along with his brother Adrian (Class of 1973) attended the Row up to Leaving Certificate. Joe spent a number of years at sea as a Ship’s Radio Officer, moving then to a role in the IT Industry, before spending almost 20 years of his career in the onshore division of the Irish Coast Guard. Joe has a keen interest in sailing and is firm believer in the work done by AYT in giving opportunities to those who might otherwise be passed by.
Sadly, Joe’s brother Adrian passed away after a long illness in July 2017 and Joe has now created a bursary in his name. The objective of the bursary is to fund a Sail Training place for one disadvantaged youth each year from an inner city school in Dublin or Belfast. Joe is pleased to fund one of the three Row Student places this summer from Adrian’s bursary, and is also delighted that AYT have agreed to fund the two other places from bursaries that they have received. The PPU will make a small contribution, and to ensure “buy-in” from the selected students, they too will be expected to contribute, possibly through a school Cake Sale or other fund raising activities.
We wish all the participants well and look forward to the results of the selection process and the voyage itself!
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