Speech at the 60th Anniversary Celebrations for St. Patrick’s Boys National School,
Mallow, 28th November 2014
Is mór an pléisiúr dom a bheith anseo inniu chun cheiliúrtha chothrom seasca bliain de Scoil Náisiúnta Bhuachaillí Naomh Pádraig a shonrú. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an bPríomhoide, An tUasal Sean Horgan as ucht an chureadh fial flaithiúil a chuir se chugam le bheith i láthair ag imeachtaí an lae inniu agus gabhaim buíochas libhse go léir as ucht na fáilte fonnmhar sin a chuir sibh romham.
[It gives me great pleasure to be here today to mark the occasion of St. Patrick’s Boys National School’s 60th Anniversary Celebrations. I would like to thank the school principal, Mr. Sean Horgan, for his kind invitation to attend today’s events and all of you for that very enthusiastic welcome.]
I was thinking, as I travelled here today, of how lucky the boys in this school are to be growing up in this beautiful part of Cork; the ‘crossroads of Munster’, and a place whose rich and varied history has seen it transform from a defensive settlement to an agricultural market place and to the dynamic and busy town it is today. Mallow has also played an important part in some of the most important events in our national history, including our War of Independence when the Military Barracks here became the only one to be captured.
Later on today I will be unveiling a statue of Thomas Davis, a very famous Irish patriot who was born here in Mallow. Thomas Davis had a vision of a fairer Ireland where everyone would be equal and treated with respect. But he knew that having that dream was no good if he did not use his talent and skills to try and make his dream become a reality, and he is a man whose great commitment and determination helped to make our country a better place in which to live.
He is a great example of the type of person we should aspire to be and I am delighted to know that the mission of this school is to enable children to realise their potential as unique individuals and to develop as social beings who contribute to the good of society. That is a very important goal and one that truly sums up the values of this school and the ethos which makes it such a special place. Here, in St Patrick’s, a pupil is not simply recognised for how well they do at their lessons or how highly they score in exams but also for how hard they work; how kind and considerate they are to each other and also, of course, for how much use they make of all the individual talents they have been given. The pupils here are very lucky to attend a school like this; one which truly understands the importance of each and every child, the contribution they can make, and the potential they can realise.
Like all good schools St. Patrick’s is not only important to its staff and pupils but also to the area that surrounds it. For sixty years now, this school has been an integral part of the community of Mallow. I am sure many of you have parents, aunts and uncles, or older brothers or sisters who are past pupils of this school making it an important part of your own family histories, a place of memories that you all share in common.
It is very appropriate that you are celebrating this important anniversary by the planting of a tree in this very special garden. This tree will put down strong roots here in Mallow and in the grounds of St Patrick’s school, and will grow and flourish and spread its branches in many different directions. Sown, as it will be, on the bicentenary of Thomas Davis it will remind us that all the boys here will face the challenge of growing up in the years to come in new circumstances where they will follow their own individual pathways in life. Some of those pathways may lead to different parts of Ireland and to different countries around the world. But your roots will always be here in Mallow and in St Patrick’s; and wherever life may lead you, you will always remember your schooldays here and the friends you have made and the teachers who have taught you so much.
Tá súil agam gur sona rathúil laethanta na todhchaí atá rompu; todhchaí a bheidh lán le deiseanna agus táim cinnte go ndéanfaidh sibh tréaniarracht i gcónaí le bhur n-acmhainní, bhur gcuid talann agus bhur scileanna a chur ag obair ar mhaithe le bhur dteaghlaigh, bhur bpobail agus bhur sochaí.
[I hope those futures will be happy and successful ones, full of opportunity and I am sure that you will always strive to use your individual potential, talents and skills for the benefit of your families, your communities and your society.]
Visiting you all here today has been a very enjoyable and uplifting experience. St Patrick’s is, indeed, a school that is committed to giving every pupil the opportunity they each deserve to fulfil their true potential. I commend your principal, teachers and support staff here for your dedication to your pupils; for your constant willingness to go the extra mile and to give that little bit more in order to fully nurture and support all of the children in your care so that they may grow and flourish.
Before I finish, I want to also congratulate all the boys and girls here for making such a special effort today to welcome me to the school and for being so attentive during my remarks.
Thank you very much.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.