A new committee and set officers were elected at the recent Belvedere Union AGM, held in Belvedere House on August 27 2025.
Pictured with Headmaster Gerry Foley are John Reynolds (President), Cathal Barry (Immediate Past President), Colin Lynch (President Elect), Ivan Hammond (Senior Vice President) and Sean Carroll (Outgoing Chair, Junior Union).
Belvedere Union 122nd Committee Members 2025/26
John Reynolds (President)
Cathal Barry (Immediate Past President / BSN)
Colin Lynch (President Elect)
Ivan Hammond (Senior Vice President / Hon Secretary)
Brian Terry (Honorary Treasurer)
Niall Behan (Membership Officer)
Neil Owens (Comms Strategy)
PJ O’Brien (Careers Clinic Lead)
Ronan Spain (Careers Clinic Strategy)
Thomas Arnold (Communications Officer)
Robert Forbes (Network Forum Lead)
Ciaran Murray (Chair – Junior Union)
David Monaghan (OBRFC Lead)
John Treacy (JAI)
John O’Reilly (JAI / Annual Mass)
Brendan Heneghan (SVP Lead)
Paul Bryce (Careers Clinic Strategy)
Shayne Murphy (Comms Strategy)
Greg Gormley (Careers Clinic Strategy)
Kevin Jolley (Golf Society)
Colin McCarthy (Belvedere College Deputy Principal / Union liaison)
Fr Paddy Greene SJ (Belvedere College Rector)
Gerry Foley (Belvedere College Headmaster)
Address from John Reynolds, President of Belvedere Union at AGM :-
Fr Paddy Greene, Headmaster Gerry Foley, fellow members of the Belvedere Union, CJ our Outgoing President, to our other past presidents, committee colleagues and friends — thank you all for being here tonight.
It is a deep honour to stand before you this evening, not just as the incoming President of Belvedere Union, but as someone who has been profoundly shaped by this extraordinary college and community.
I take on this role following in the footsteps of some truly exceptional leaders of the Union —most recently, CJ Barry
CJ, your presidency—and indeed your long-standing service to the Union—has been transformative. You brought clarity, warmth, and dignity to everything we undertook. You led with generosity and conviction, and on behalf of all of us, I extend my sincere thanks. Of course your journey with the Union is far from over – as you said last year from Hotel California, while you can check out you never really leave. Your continued leadership of the Belvedere Support Network remains invaluable and we are so grateful for your unwavering commitment. We’re all excited to see the continued evolution of the Support Network as it provides such much needed support to Belvederians and their families at a time of most need.
I’d also like to acknowledge a number of other key people in the Union :-
- Colin Lynch, our President-elect: When it came time to nominate a future President—someone with boundless energy, positivity, and a deep-rooted commitment to service—Colin was the clear and natural choice. He reflects the spirit and values that have long guided this Union, and I know he will carry them forward with distinction. He has been tireless leading the Union Golf Society for many years and getting involved in a number of other key initiatives – and I know the Union will be in great hands under his stewardship.
- Bernie Millar, our Alumni Relations Officer: Bernie, your tireless dedication has been a driving force behind so many of the Union’s events, initiatives, and achievements. The Belvedere community owes you a great debt of gratitude—not just for your hard work since taking on the role just over a year ago, but for your years of service across countless committees that continue to enrich our extended Belvedere family.
- Ciarán Murray, Chair of the Junior Union: Since its foundation by Brian Kearney some 17 years ago, the Junior Union has made a real impact—through charitable efforts, community engagement, and as importantly, by nurturing future Union leaders, as exemplified by CJ himself. I’ve no doubt Ciaran will carry on the great work from so many of his predecessors and together we will ensure a close relationship between the junior and senior union. Ciaran is unfortunately unable to join us this evening due to a fractured leg earlier this week but Sean Carroll outgoing Chair of the Junior Union has very kindly agreed to step in for Ciaran this evening to say a few words on behalf of the JU.
When I think of Belvedere Union, I see it as more than just a series of events—though the dinners, reunions, debates, and networking gatherings are vital.
It is, at its heart, a bridge between the past and the present.
A quiet but enduring force that shows up—when someone needs a mentor, when a recent graduate is seeking guidance, or when life takes an unexpected turn.
It’s the phone call that begins, “You probably don’t remember me, but…” and ends with, “Thanks, that meant a lot.” That is not simply connection. That is solidarity in action. And in a world that is so often increasingly transactional, this spirit of selfless support is something rare—and something worth protecting.
In truth, I didn’t fully appreciate the Union’s role until much later in life. While I’ve been part of the Belvedere community since my teenage years, it was through my involvement with the Belvedere Youth Club for over 30 years that I came to understand the true impact of this network. I’ve witnessed what happens when someone is told they matter—perhaps for the first time. I’ve seen young people, often overlooked by the world, step forward, grow, and eventually give back. These stories remind me that Belvedere doesn’t seek to create perfection.It creates people who care, who lead, who serve, who show up.
And our alumni show up in many forms:
- Volunteering with the St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Offering their time and talent to the Belvedere Support Network
- Chaperoning the Lourdes pilgrimage
- Supporting the continued growth of Belvedere Youth Club, one of Ireland’s oldest youth groups providing a critical service in the North East Inner City.
- Coaching or playing at Old Belvedere Rugby Club
- Giving back where they can to Belvedere College in so many different ways
- Or simply being a steady, silent supporter in the background
Of course, the Union also provides moments of joy—whether at our dinners, lunches, or reunions. But even in those light-hearted moments, we find something deeper: a sense of belonging. The shared recognition that we are—and always have been—part of something greater than ourselves.
In the year ahead, I want our Union to continue to focus on three key themes:
- Be visible – we will continue to ensure our message is amplified across the broadest reaches of our alumni and everyone has the opportunity to connect and be involved in our many events and charities – and through our key Mass for the Deceased in November we reflect on the lives of so many who have gone before us and contributed in so many different ways to the Belvedere Community – their contributions will be fittingly honoured at that mass.
- Be useful – Let’s ensure that our events and engagements are meaningful. Not networking for its own sake, but platforms that foster real connections, provide support, and spark inspiration—especially for younger alumni and those navigating life’s transitions.
- Be kind – If you take nothing else from tonight, let it be this: we are here to support one another. Notice when someone is missing, ask “How can I help?” and give back where we can.
In a few weeks, I’ll be speaking again—this time at our Annual Dinner on the 17th of October. I hope to see many of you there.
I’ll speak about the teachers and Jesuits who shaped us, the Youth Club that transformed lives, the parents who made sacrifices, and the Belvederians who never sought recognition but made all the difference.
If Belvedere has taught us anything, it’s that leadership isn’t always loud.
It’s showing up—again and again— for others.
That’s the tapestry we all belong to.
And tonight, I want to thank each of you—for weaving your own thread into this tapestry.
Thank you.