Riverside Theatre concerts kick off Dominican centenary events

The musical events entitled ‘Celebrating 100 Years’ take place in the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine on March 8 and 9 at 7.30pm and feature the musical talents of pupils, past and present.

2017 is a remarkable year for the Portstewart seat of learning and a wide range of celebratory events has been organised to mark the centenary of Dominican education on the site.

In January, the centenary year began with the launch of a Book of Reflection.

Former principal of the school, Sr Lucina Montagu greeted Dominican staff as they gathered to celebrate the launch of the 2017 centenary prayer book. She spoke of her arrival in Portstewart in 1962 and the appropriateness and relevance of the date chosen to launch the first Centenary event as the feast day of the blessed Jordan of Saxony, the successor to St Dominic.

Sr Lucina, on behalf of the Dominican sisters, spoke of how the 2017 prayer book spoke of a continuation of the ethos established here in 1917 and how the spirit of St Dominic continues to live on in the works of his followers. She told staff that the publication, a labour of love for the school’s RE department was “something valuable to be proud of and a publication that will set before our young people the influences, challenges and responsibilities that lie before them, and ourselves as 21st Dominicans.”

A gala dinner has been organised in the Tullyglass House Hotel in Ballymena on April 21. Tickets are selling fast with past pupils quite literally flying in from all over the world to attend the event.

Further information and tickets are available from the school.

All past and present Trustees, Governors, staff, students and anyone associated with Dominican College, Portstewart and the Portstewart/North Coast community in general are very welcome to attend.

Among other plans for the remainder of the year are a sporting tournament, art exhibition and open day for former pupils and staff, beach walk, musical and the release of a commemorative Christmas card.