Clongowes Union Charity Project 2006/07 - The Declan Collins Trust

Part of the Plan of Service 2005 to 2010 adopted by the Clongowes Union is the aim of putting into action ideals and objectives to support worthy causes. The Union annually assists our “own” charities – the Clongowes Youth Club and the Benevolent Fund and in recent years the Satu Mare Project.  This project, directed at homeless young street children in Romania, has raised over €100,000 since 2002.

I would now like to direct our focus to Johannesburg, South Africa, to a project which encompasses the Declan Collins Education Centre.  Declan, from Baltray, Co. Louth and his family have had a long and close association with Clongowes.  Declan (1965-1970) along with is his brothers John, Rowan and Maurice all went to Clongowes as well as his nephews James, Patrick, Cormac and Declan.  Patrick (son of Maurice) was head boy in 1999 and has recently returned to his Alma Mater as Third Line Prefect.

After leaving Clongowes, Declan joined the Royal Bank (now part of the AIB Bank). During this period Declan became actively involved with, what was then called, the Clongowes Boys Club eventually becoming its Director. Declan had a major impact on the club changing its name to the Clongowes Youth Club, taking in girls as members, fundraising and renovating the club facilities and arranging summer holidays for the club members in Clongowes.

Declan was transferred to Glasgow when the AIB opened a new branch in Shawlands.  Whilst there Declan became involved with the Salesian Order who were actively involved in helping delinquent youth.  This order, founded by the Italian, St. John Bosco SDB, was formed to help and support the youth.  In Ireland they are mainly known for their involvement in running agriculture colleges. In 1979, aged 27, Declan answered his vocation, resigned from the bank and joined the Salesian Order.  In 1990, after completing his studies at Maynooth, he was ordained at his parish church in Termonfeckin, Co. Louth.

In 1991 he was posted to Cape Town, South Africa, where he launched into an apostolate for street children, especially the older youth who did not feel at ease with the children, yet were rejected by adult agencies.  He established a hostel in the Salesian Institute building for those street children willing to engage in the process to leave the streets behind.  The Don Bosco hostel accommodated 25 youths.  He also started an outreach programme for the youths who elected to stay on the streets.  At this time South Africa was emerging from the nightmare of apartheid with all its associated tensions.  His work was dangerous involving numerous clashes with the police authorities and even a spell in a police station cell.  He, at times, also had problems with his religious superiors with his habit of distributing condoms in trying to control the scourge of AIDS.  Around this time, Declan became a charter member of a new Rotary Club in his area of Cape Town.  He realised that being associated with the local business and professional communities would afford some protection and also provide some useful contacts for his never ending fundraising activities.  For his work on behalf of the club he was awarded the Paul Harris medal from Rotary International.

In 1999 Declan was both physically and mentally exhausted when he arrived home on holidays.  After a rest he was posted on pastoral duties to Manzini in Swaziland.  His parish, so different than Cape Town, was located in a remote rural area.  It was here that he realised the importance of both the religious sisters and the laity.  His parish was so large that it would have been impossible to perform without their support.  Always keen to get back working with the youth he was transferred to a coloured township near Johannesburg.  This was one of the growth points in the new South Africa, with sprawling informal settlements on its borders (squatter camps).  Here together with the Salesian Sisters, he found plenty of scope for his talents, working with the poor youth.  An informal school was established in Finetown for children, who for various reasons, were discriminated against by the authorities and thus could not attend the state schools.  Over 70% of these children were infected with the HIV virus.  Declan’s compassion and passion for these children was wonderful to behold.  When asked what he was trying to achieve, he said: “nothing more than to lift them out of their misery into poverty – a hand up, not a hand out”.

On Saturday, 16th November 2002, Fr. Declan was finalising preparations for the opening and blessing of a new purpose built hall the following day.  At this ceremony, Declan was to be installed as the new parish priest to the All Saints Church at Ennerdale.
That night, at 11.15pm, Declan was found dead, lying in a pool of his own blood, outside the front door of his small presbytery house.  A struggle had taken place within the building which continued outside.  Declan must have fought valiantly before eventually succumbing to his wounds.  Nobody knows why and by whom Declan was murdered.  There was no robbery or sign of forced entry and no arrests were made.  It still remains unsolved.

Rowan and his sister Caroline travelled to Ennerdale to bring Declan’s remains home for burial.  When there, they attended a memorial mass, met by his confreres and parishioners and visited his projects.  They left Ireland devastated with grief but returned home filled with pride because they had witnessed Declan’s ministry and had seen how much he was both respected and missed by all. They saw how much he had achieved in such a short period and could only envisage what could have been if he was spared.

Declan’s family, together with some of his close friends decided that his work should continue and so started the Declan Collins Trust Fund. Its chairman, Diarmuid Halpin OC’70, was one of Declan’s closest friends. Another trustee is Dr. Michael Fay OC’65, who together with his family was very supportive of Declan during his Maynooth years.  The Salesians are building a new complex in Ennerdale which will include the Declan Collins Educational Centre.  This centre will provide education and skills to the local youth (like a FAS centre) – a project that would have been close to Declan’s heart.  To date the Trust has collected over €100,000 which is currently being used to fund the salary of Bernie Mullen, a South African lady, as project manager as well as helping to purchase the site.  Building plans are presently being drawn up and planning application being sought.  The total cost of the whole project is estimated at 17 million Rand, just under €2 million.

As your Union President and former classmate of Declan, I believe this would be an excellent charity to support.  Declan, through his various efforts has brought honour to Clongowes and I believe we should acknowledge this and help to continue his work in South Africa.  So let’s get involved and make an impact on the lives of these people – people of the other end of the scale to ourselves – people who have absolutely nothing!

Donations may be made as follows:

Cheque made payable to the Clongowes Union Declan Collins Trust and forward to David Kearney, Willville House, Carlingford, Co. Louth

Bank transfer to

The Declan Collins Trust Fund,
AIB Bank,
Ardee,
Co. Louth                                   

Sort Code:  93-24-50     
Account Number:  58947008

Registered charity number CHY 15773.

Standing order instruction by downloading and completing this form.

On behalf of Ennerdale, Johannesburg, South Africa, may thanks in advance and we will keep you posted on the projects undoubted progress.  Please do not expect an acknowledgement but be rest assured your donation will be 100% used and much appreciated.

Yours in Clongowes,

David Kearny OC’70
President of the Union