(MUNGRET / JUBA) – Former pupils of Mungret College in Ireland have marked the 50th anniversary of the school’s closure with donations of more than €30,000 (about 32,700 US Dollars / 150 million South Sudanese Pounds). Part of the contribution will directly benefit students in South Sudan, linking the Jesuit education tradition in Ireland with new opportunities in Africa.
The Mungret Past Pupils’ Union appealed to former students to support Mungret Community College, which opened in 2017 on the grounds of the original Jesuit founded school. They raised €20,000 (about 21,800 USD / 100 million SSP). Of this, €10,000 (about 10,900 USD / 50 million SSP) was donated to the Community College in Limerick, while another €10,000 was given to Loyola Secondary School in South Sudan. The Jesuit order matched the latter donation, doubling the support for Loyola to €20,000 (about 21,800 USD / 100 million SSP).
Loyola Secondary School, a co-educational day school, was established in 1982. Its first intake came in 1984, but conflict forced it to close just two years later. The school reopened in April 2008 with 180 students and has since become an important education centre in South Sudan, offering both academic learning and practical food security projects.
The principal of Mungret Community College, Liam O’Mahony, praised the alumni for their long-standing support. He described the €10,000 donation as evidence of the strong bond between past pupils and their former school. He added that although Mungret College closed in 1974, friendships and loyalty have endured for decades.
John Power, a past pupil who attended the school between 1959 and 1962, described the donations as “very generous.”
Fr John Guiney of the Society of Jesus highlighted the impact in South Sudan, explaining that the funding will expand scholarships for disadvantaged students and strengthen food production projects. He said the school motto, “May your youth be renewed like an eagle,” continues to inspire through the outreach of Mungret’s alumni.
Nearly 100 past pupils gathered in 2024 to mark half a century since the school’s closure, renewing friendships and celebrating the continuation of their Jesuit educational legacy in both Ireland and South Sudan.
Donations and Beneficiaries
| Beneficiary School | Location | Amount in Euro | Amount in USD | Amount in SSP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mungret Community College | Ireland | €10,000 | $10,900 | 50,140,000 |
| Loyola Secondary School | South Sudan | €10,000 (+€10,000 matched) | $21,800 | 100,280,000 |
| Total | – | €30,000 | $32,700 | 150,420,000 |
