Remarks on a Visit to St. Patrick’s Boys National School for their 75th Anniversary
Cork, 28th June 2012
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, thank you for that very warm welcome. I am delighted to be here today at St Patrick’s Boys National School in Gardiner’s Hill. This is, of course, a very special year for the teachers and pupils of the school; the year you celebrate the school’s seventy fifth anniversary on your present site and I am very pleased to have the opportunity to take part in the celebrations.
I know that your school motto is “Ó gach duine a dhícheall” (From each person, their best). I think that motto is one of the many things which make this school such a special place – a place that doesn’t simply value a pupil by how well they do at their lessons, but also by how hard they work; by how well they treat each other; and of course by how much use they make of all of the individual talents they have been given.
The pupils of St Patrick’s are very lucky to go to a school that fully understands and acts on the basis that all of the boys here are equally important and that all of you should have the opportunity to achieve your full potential – to be the very best you can be, whether that’s at lessons, or sport, or art, or music, or being a good leader or a helpful team member or all of the other things we can do to make our contribution to the school and in our community.
St Patrick’s is, of course, a school that is committed to giving every pupil the opportunity each boy deserves to fulfil his true potential. I commend the teachers and support staff here for their dedication to their pupils; for their constant willingness to go the extra mile and to give that little bit more in order to fully nurture and support all of the boys in their care.
St. Patrick’s School has a proud history which actually dates back to 1841 when the school was established on its previous location at St. Luke’s Cross. Since then, many pupils who passed through its doors went on to distinguish themselves in sport, politics and academia – including Tomás O’Leary and Donal Lenihan on the rugby field.
Tuigim go bhfuil sibh thar a bheith bródúil as an baint atá ag an scoil le Frank O’Connor. Bhí O’Connor ar cheann de na scríbhneoirí Éireannacha is fearr dá raibh ann. Dar ndóigh bhí sé ar cheann de na scríbhneoirí gearrscéalta is fearr dá raibh ann sa domhan mór. Ní haon ábhar iontais go dtugann saol ildánach, cruthaitheach agus samhlaíoch Frank O’Connor spreagadh do na buachaillí scoile sa lá atá inniu ann. Ba mhian le bhur dtuismitheoirí agus bhur múinteoirí go ndéanfadh sibh a ndícheall i gcónaí.
[I know that the school is particularly proud of its association with Frank O’Connor, who was not only one of Ireland’s greatest writers but also among the world’s best short-story writers. Perhaps it is the spirit of the genius of Frank O’Connor that inspires so many of the boys at school today to be so talented, so creative and so imaginative. That is what your parents and teachers want – to see all your talent and creativity blossom to its full potential. ]
Of course, Something else that makes St Patrick’s very special is your After School Building, where forty five lucky pupils are provided with homework assistance and recreational sporting activities from Monday to Friday after the normal school day has completed. This is a wonderful facility which has already, since its completion in 2009, made a valuable contribution to the lives of the children and parents in this community.
We know that quality after-school childcare facilities like these are the best way of encouraging good work and the development of effective study habits. This positive environment, along with the games and recreation that are available makes after-school attendance a great experience for the 45 boys who attend. I am sure that your parents must also be delighted that you are doing well in this after-school programme.
Today is an important occasion for all those who have contributed to this project and who have worked hard to make the After School programme a happy and beneficial experience for all involved – for the boys, for their families and for the wider community.
Before I finish, I want to congratulate all the boys for making such a special effort today to welcome me to the school and for being so attentive during my remarks. As this is the last day of school before the summer holidays, I can only imagine how excited you all are at the prospect of two months off without any school. But I suspect that by mid-August many of you will be secretly looking forward to returning to school and meeting up again with your friends and teachers. And even if you are not, it’s a certain bet that your parents will be.
I hope that all of the boys, teachers, staff and families have a wonderful summer; that you all get a relaxing break and an opportunity to refresh tired minds and bodies; and that you return here in September full of energy and enthusiasm for another school year. I send my particular good wishes to the boys in 6th class who won’t be returning because they will be taking the next exciting step in life’s journey into secondary school. It’s a big step but one that St. Patrick’s School has well prepared you for.
Finally I would like to thank you all, once again, for the wonderful welcome you have given me here today. I would like to convey my appreciation to Joe McCarthy, Principal of the school, and the Board of Management for inviting me to join you all and I wish you all the very best for the future.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.