YOUR RESPONSES

Sarah Perry - Jan '08
Johnny Saunderson was a pupil at Portora in the 1960s. He's now one of the most well known television cameramen in the world going to all those dangerous places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Ask Chris Donegan at the Impartial Reporter who knows him personally.

Philip Jerrome - July '06
I just want to respond to the January '05 entry from Geoff Hunkin. Geoff was a drummer in one of the first rock bands to hit County Fermanagh back in '68. I was the singer. Geoff, if you read this send me a line at: modofome@yahoo.com

Robert Northridge- March '06
Bishop Stock was the Headmaster before he left to be Bishop of Killala.

Peter Fifield - March '06
Unfortunately Beckett's witticism missed a rather less savoury irony regarding private school pupils. They may indeed be rich and thick, but they also tend to rise to the top.

Tom Thirgood - Jan '06
We must of course mention Graham Little and his brother Warren, together with Justin Woods and Graham Smith, all Old Portorans, who were in the Irish team to win the World Elephant Polo Championships in Nepal 2005.

James - Sept '05
This is beautiful

Raymond O'Reagan - August '05
In reply to Wesley Young re the pronounciation of PORTORA
The first syllable pronounce as POUR then The second syllable as TORA as in the film "TORA TORA TORA" Another interesting piece of info re former pupils: Samuel Beckett obtained a teaching post in Campbell College in Belfast and was advised that he was about to teach the "cream of Ulster" and his response was supposed to be "Yes rich and thick." Another interesting fact about Beckett was that he was a member of the French Resistance during WW2 and received one of France's highest awards for his exploits.

Wesley Young - April '05
Actually, I am on a quest. I am working on a play about Oscar Wilde and I need to know how to properly pronounce the name of this school. I have very much enjoyed reading about the school and am amazed it is still serving youth. Any help you might give me with the pronunciation would be so greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Wesley Young.

Thomas W Hogg - March 05
It may also be interesting to point out that another Old Portoran is The Rt. Hon. Nigel Dodds OBE, MP, MLA, BL. Famous barrister and Menber of Parliament for North Belfast.

Benjamin D. Adams - February '05
William Dunkin was there too.

William McBride, Portora - February '05
You could add another old boy, shortly to be made a saint(might be already) Fr. John Sullivan (at Portora and Clongowes); also the famous Beckett and Ken Russell actor ('Delius') the late Max Adrian; another Old Boy J. Switzer has the record for the shortest letter to the Times:- Dear Sir, Torpedo tubes. Yours etc The actress Zara Turner was a girl here, in the 1980s when Portora had a complement of 30 female boarders.

Colin Rutherford - February '05
I'm a present pupil of Portora and I am intrigued to find out about all this information on the internet.

Geoff Hunkin - January '05
I was a student from 1965-1969...crazy times with lots of good stories. I live in the USA now and haven't returned to see the old place. For a Canadian going from Canadian public schools to Portora was a shock to say the least. I survived but scampered back across the Atlantic at the first opportunity. Surprised to find that Portora has no WWW presence.

Philip Jerrome - November '04
Response to 'Portora Pupil' : I'd love to hear the inside story. I'm an old boy from the U.S.A. and it was pretty "interesting" back in the day (late '60s.) We (the students) were just nuts!

Brian Leggett -  October '04
Could you tell me if Bishop Joseph Stock was headmaster of Portora sometime in the 1700s?

Ron Kerr - September '04
I am an old boy from Portora (1946-49) now resident in Australia and am delighted to see that my adopted homeland has some connection with Portora, thanks to Dr John White as far back as 1787!

William Blair - August 2004
Sirs,
Trying to find the name of and description of the cap badge that was worn by the schools previous o.t.c. before the world war?

Portora Pupil - May 2004
I'm a pupil at Portora. If only you exposed the inside of the school in all its 'glory'.