WCFE celebrate landmark 120th anniversary in Waterford
Pictured at Waterford College of Further Education, 120th year celebration. Photo: Joe Evans
One hundred and twenty years of education were celebrated in Waterford City this week, with Waterford College of Further Education marking its 120th year last Thursday, September 17, with a celebratory open day.
The college, originally named the Central Technical Institute, opened its doors for the very first time on Monday, September 17, 1906, with Bernard O'Shaughnessy as principal.
To celebrate the college and its place in the community, past students, staff members, business partners and members of the local community were invited to the college's Parnell Street campus to share their stories.
"We want to tell the story of the college," said Michelle Daly, Head of Art and Media at the college ahead of the open day, "but we want to use the people who came here to tell it, as a sort of living archive of the place."
On the day, past students and staff met with Shane Dunphy, Head of Social Sciences at WCFE, and gave their testimonials and stories to him, so an archive could be created.
Jim O'Meara, although not a former student of the college himself, gave a particularly interesting testimonial.
His grandfather, John O'Meara, was one of the very first students at the college 120 years ago.
John O'Meara, alongside his good friend William Devereaux, whose grand nephew Brian Egan was in attendance last week, arrived at the college a week before classes began in 1906 and were given a trial run for the day before being signed up for classes due to begin the week after.
"It's absolutely fantastic to be here today reflecting on the importance of 120 years," Noreen O'Reilly, principal of WCFE, told the Waterford News & Star, "We've tried to create a carnival atmosphere, and I think we have really achieved in doing that. I want to say that the staff are absolutely fantastic in putting this together.
"I really feel we're carrying on the legacy of a vision that was created 120 years ago, and it's such a privilege for me personally, as the first female principal, to lead this fantastic team and to continue that vision as we reflect on the past and move into the future."
The Parnell Street campus was indeed turned into a circus of sorts on Thursday morning, with course demonstrations from current students including blood pressure tests by the nursing department, dog grooming on site by the animal care students, live music and more, in a wonderful showcase of everything WCFE has to offer, past, present and future.
David O'Connor of Weltec Engineering said, "I think it's fantastic, 120 years of service to Waterford. It's brilliant and as a local company, we're delighted to be associated with them and have a good affiliation with them and hopefully that'll continue for the next 120 years."
"It's a testament to how strong the teaching is here, because we're going for so long," Sally Ann Cunnigham, Head of Sciences at WCFE, told this newspaper.
The celebrations won't end on the college's anniversary, as WCFE gears up for a year-long programme of events marking the historic anniversary and celebrating its place in the community.
From 120 hairdos, dog grooms and beauty treatments for €10 each to 120 shoe box donations and 120 bulbs planted in their gardens to library exhibitions and art and photography exhibitions documenting the school’s history.
Students from WCFE's theatre and event production course will also host a gala performance on Thursday, February 25, next year, at the Theatre Royal as the standout feature of the 120-year celebrations with music, dancing, and theatrics for all to enjoy.
