Cathy Winston, class of 1979

“It’s a very long time since I have been there but when I see all the girls walking through Donnybrook I am immensely proud of them. The uniform is far nicer today.. I don’t actually miss the uniform! ''

'' I loved the sports in Muckross. Ms Blair the PE teacher and Sr Carmel were just fantastic. So ambitious for the school. We were one of the first schools to get a grit pitch as it was still grass for most schools. Sr Carmel set up a fundraising scheme with the Parents called the 300 club and it funded the pitch. She had such amazing foresight! ''

'' Again, as anyone who knew me will testify, [my time in school] was all about the sports and we won the all-Ireland relay silver medal. We won the Leinster gold. And I remember going up during assembly to show the school the medals ''

'' Deirdre (Blair-Conway) entered us in everything and we got to represent the school in the Leinster Schools Athletics and the All Irelands. We travelled the country competing ''

'' Representing the school for hockey was such a big deal. Hockey was really big in Muckross and we were one of the best schools in the 70s. It is great to see the school back on the hockey map again in the past 10 years. I made such great friends with hockey, but also in other schools we played and they would still be people I know today ''

'' I played hockey for Leinster and Ireland and would have to thank Deirdre Blair-Conway for all the encouragement and the complete belief she had in me. She put me forward for trials and was behind me every step of the way ''

'' Doing the play with Gonzaga was great fun. Although the play itself bored everyone half to death! ''

'' I really loved the atmosphere in Muckross. The teachers and the nuns were so encouraging and they really gave me a sense of 'you could do anything you set your mind to'. The Dominican order were just brilliant and I consider myself very lucky to have gone there. The famous Sr Barney (Barnabas) was there in my time and she was such a legend! ''

'' [After school] I went to UCD and studied Economics. From there, I worked in 3 companies related to Market research and Marketing consultancy before setting up my own company when I was 30. I still have my own management consulting business and I work with companies on strategy and innovation. ''

'' I work out a few times a week and play golf for my sport. Need to burn up all the extra energy! I think when you play competitive sport when you are younger you really have to keep some type of exercise up for your sanity as you get older. I have 2 sons Ross, 29 and David 26, both working and living in London and -- surprise, surprise they are Hockey players! ''

Advice for your 18 year old self:
'' Chill a little. Everything always works out in the end, so enjoy the journey! And by the way, it’s a long and really varied journey with so many twists and turns - so trying to plan it within an inch of your life, is futile! ''

Fun fact about yourself?
'' That’s not so easy! They say I day-dreamed my way through school and they would be right about that! ''