Tom Kitt, Michael Kitt, Jim Higgins, Ray Silke and "Markeen" Killilea: when you have politicians, ambassadors, archbishops and brigadier-generals on the old roll books, a school anniversary should be a fairly star-studded affair.
And so it promises to be when one of the west's most prestigious secondary schools, St Jarlath's College in Tuam, Co Galway, celebrates its 200th birthday.
Although the anniversary is in July, the past pupils' union has already hosted four official receptions to publicise the event.
At the Dublin gathering, the Minister of State for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, entertained guests with vivid memories of college life, and his pride in donning the blue jersey, even if it was for hurling rather than football.
St Jarlath's has a distinguished sporting tradition; it supplied three members of the GAA "team of the century", and no fewer than 13 of the Galway panel which won the All Ireland football final in 1998.
The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, his predecessor, Dr Joseph Cunnane, Dr Enda McDonagh, professor of theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and Brig Gen James Saunderson of the Army occupied desks at Tuam. So did the president of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Gay Corr, Denis Coghlan, Chief Political Correspondent of The Irish Times, the broadcaster Michael Lyster, the Abbey actor, Macdara O Fatharta, and the businessmen Joe Malone, Terry and John Sweeney, and Padraic Rhatigan.
With much emphasis on physical recreation, the college is proud of its sporting prowess. The big team games weren't the only activities, however.
Handball has a strong claim to be the quintessential St Jarlath's sport, according to another past pupil, John Cunningham, author of a recently published history of the college.
He notes how "decades before organised sport became important", the authorities were "enthusiastic about the benefits of exercise and fresh air".
One activity that wasn't encouraged was duelling; when two pupils were found to have attended such a contest, they were required "to ask God's pardon in the presence of all the scholars".
Established in the shadow of the Penal Laws, the college's existence reflected the growing confidence of Irish Catholics in the second half of the 18th century, according to Prof Gearoid O Tuathaigh of NUI Galway in his introduction to Mr Cunningham's book.
The founding "may be seen as a milestone in the emergence of Irish Catholics from the shadow of discrimination and exclusion", he says.
"As educational institutions, the Irish diocesan colleges reflected the values and the ideas (about education itself, discipline, social roles, political sentiment) of the largely farming and country-town communities", Prof O Tuathaigh notes.
St Jarlath's played a "pivotal role in the west", he writes, "a province noted for the difficult economic and social challenges it has faced in many periods during the past two centuries, but noted also for the inspiring and sometimes controversial leadership it has provided in ecclesiastical as well as in political organisations".
In tandem with Cunningham's history, a video documentary by Hawkeye Films on college life, directed by Donal R. Haughey, has also been made. Entitled Books, Bells and Football it gives a voice to current students, and considers the future in an interview with the president, Father Oliver Hughes.
Mr Michael Marren, past pupils' union president, has been working with his committee to put together a series of bicentenary events, and advance booking for the Homecoming on July 8th is already open.
The Website address is www.jarlaths.ie and the booking freephone number is 1850216-016. Also available by phoning that number are copies of John Cunningham's history, St Jarlath's College, Tuam 1800- 2000, and Donal Haughey's documentary film.