How Mount Temple clocks it up to experience

Under the eye of the clock, theoretically speaking, the Mount Temple Network has just been established by the alumni of one of Dublin's most famous comprehensive schools, Mount Temple on the Malahide Road.

Alma mater to a range of celebrities, including rock group U2, writer Christopher Nolan, artists Una Sealy and Eamon Coleman, sculptor Linda Brunker, actress Veronica Coburn and Gavin Friday's collaborator, Maurice Roycroft, the school, which was formed in 1972 with the amalgamation of Mountjoy School, the Hibernian Marine School and Bertrand and Rutland High School for Girls.

The network, designed to bring together past pupils, current students, teachers and friends of the school, is definitely not just about organising social events, stresses its director of operations and former teacher, Donald Moxham.

However, dinners, reunions, the encouragement of sports, drama and musical societies and other clubs and charity and fundraising are all clearly on the network's agenda. He says: "It was also set up in order to give parents, members of staff or friends of the school . . .a place to come to if they need to access any information," says Moxham.

This information area would cover subjects like career advice, which would be provided through seminars and meetings, advice on third-level options and apprenticeships - and through direct contacts with past pupils who are already established in different jobs.

"People all over the world can stay in touch with us now and we hope that they will keep us up-to-date with their addresses and roles in life. We would then like to use their expertise and experience to give the present pupils more insight into their futures. Robert Carley, sales manager of Ulster Bank and a past pupil, is chairman of the network. "Hopefully we will become able to act as a `mini' recruitment agency. We are still in our infancy, but in years to come, things ought to change. We have already received numerous phone calls wondering if we had people on our files interested in career changes or available for work. "This will benefit the students, as we will be able to provide them with the opportunity to have work experience and maybe holiday work. "We hope to have group scheme benefits for our members, including a reduction on VHI and BUPA, as well as special deals for life assurance and car insurance, on the agenda for the members and associates. We also hope to have our own affinity credit card with the Mount Temple logo, proudly displayed on it. "These are some of the things we would like to see in operation a we develop. Before anything like this is achieved there are a few other aspects of the network we need to spend time on. At the moment we are in a `Catch 22' situation as the committee is voluntary, so until we get funds we won't be able to pay administration people to run the affairs of the network. "Ultimately we would like to have someone there at all times to attend to the demands the network will be producing," Carley says.

Donald Moxham doesn't want the network to be seen as an elite group. "The pupils all come from different classes and many different religions. We want to make sure people feel comfortable with the network, as it is for everyone. "The word `network' was selected so that the association would be inclusive rather than exclusive. We don't like to put too much emphasis on the famous past pupils." Since 1972, almost 4,000 pupils have passed through Mount Temple. Current enrolment stands at around 750, with Elspeth Henderson as principal.

"We decided on the school clock as our logo as many people have walked under the eye of the clock, even though they didn't attend the school," Moxham explains. The clock tower, which is situated in the centre of the school building, was made famous by writer Christopher Nolan when he referred to it in the title of his award-winning book.

Membership of the Mount Temple Network is open to all past pupils of the school, the component schools from which it evolved and all friends. Membership is £15 per annum. More information from the website at www.clubi.ie/mtnet/ or via email mtnet@clubi.ie.