The unique memorial paid tribute to the five years McGahern attended the college, between 1948 and 1953.

The brainchild of members of the Carrick-on-Shannon and District Historical Society the stone memorial is located in the front garden of what was the former college site.

Performing the official unveiling, Fr Liam Kelly said "The five years that John spent here were very important formative years in this life and he was always grateful for the education he received here".

He also paid particular honour to the teachers who influenced McGahern's schooling, not least of all Brothers Placid and Damian; Frank Mannion and Brother Francis.

As well as unveiling the memorial, a special mass was held in Carrick-on-Shannon for the late author and deceased members of the Presentation Brothers order. A commemorative booklet was also produced containing a special story written by McGahern for a Presentation Brothers book commemorating the beatification of the Venerable Edmund Ignatius Rice at St Peters Basilica in Rome.

In the story, entitled "Schooldays: A Time of Grace" McGahern notes "I look back on my time there with nothing but gratitude, as years of luck and privilege, and, above all, of grace, actual grace."

For full coverage of this special occasion, see next week's edition of the Leitrim Observer.