REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT A FUNCTION IN EUROPA HOTEL BELFAST
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT A FUNCTION IN EUROPA HOTEL BELFAST TO MARK THE CLOSURE OF BARRACK ST. CBS
For all of us here this evening, this is a most unusual event – and I have to admit that this is my first time as President to attend the closing of a school. So it’s certainly not a celebration – in the sense that we’re here to mark a new beginning or the launch of something. But it is an occasion when all of you here must have mixed feelings. On the one hand it’s a nostalgic occasion – with a fair degree of sadness – at the departure of something which had such a huge influence on your lives – one which is still part of your makeup. And it’s also celebration of sorts - in that we are marking one of the old ‘institutions’ of Belfast – paying tribute to a unique and dedicated group of people – the Christian Brothers – who put so many bright-eyed and untamed young Belfast boys through their hands – and who gave many a young man the wherewithal to go out into the world to make a name for himself - in whatever profession he chose.
So in that respect – there is much to celebrate tonight – and much to be thankful for. For my own part – I wanted to pay a particular tribute to the men who did such an amazing job on ‘turning out’ Martin McAleese – ‘putting manners on him’! – and giving him the opportunity to follow not one – but two professions. Of course, I am also very grateful that they managed to get him to take part in the debating competitions – because if it hadn’t been for those debates – he wouldn’t have come to St. Dominic’s – and I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet him.
I know from Martin what the Brothers were up against – in giving so many from the Falls – and from places as far away as Antrim or Lurgan or Newtownards – the chance to realise their potential – to find and use their talents – and to move out into the world with the confidence to go on to further education – competing with the very best. And if Martin is anything to go by – that can’t have been easy! But in each of you who attended the school – they instilled a respect for your culture – for your sport – and for your history.
Judging from the list of names here tonight – Martin was by no means alone in benefiting from the Brothers’ attention. I can honestly say - that I have never seen so many highly qualified and successful people from one school - gathered together in one room – as we have here tonight. Clearly a tremendous debt of gratitude is owed to the Brothers who arrived in Belfast in 1866 to set up the ‘ragged’ primary school in Barrack St. - and then later to open the Secondary School over seventy years ago.
The Christian Brothers in Barrack St. – like the Christian Brothers all over Ireland – were following in the tradition of their founder, Edmund Rice. As a young man in Co. Waterford - Edmund Rice was so deeply moved by the plight of poor people - that he took on their education - so that they could learn to help themselves. While Barrack St. is closing – it is comforting to know that the Christian Brothers continue to give practical expression to Edmund Rice's ideals – and still work in the poorest and most deprived areas on the globe - in the shanty towns of Peru and Paraguay - in The Gambia and Sudan - in the townships of South Africa - or with the Masai people in Kenya.
The Brothers are meeting needs where they find them - and I welcome this opportunity to pay a personal tribute to the generosity and outstanding commitment of the Christian Brothers throughout the world.
We are very fortunate to have some of the Brothers and teachers with us tonight – to join in this occasion of reflection and celebration. I think it is appropriate that I should express the gratitude of everybody who was touched by their work to them – and through them to the generations of teachers and Brothers that have ‘served time’ in Barrack St.
I am sure that many of you had a change to visit the exhibition of ‘Barrack St. Memorabilia’ this afternoon – and perhaps to meet some of the teachers and brothers this evening – to share some memories of events and episodes – of sporting victories and challenges that you were involved in.
It is a unique occasion – it has been a good day for Barrack St. – and I commend all of you for answering John Mulholland’s call to be here on this historic night. I know I speak for everyone tonight in wishing the Brothers and teachers well for the future – and a well-earned rest from the bustle of Barrack St.
ENDS