Speech by President Michael D. Higgins during a visit to Coláiste Iognáid
Galway, 21st March 2014
Tá an-áthas orm a bheith anseo inniu i gColáiste Iognáid, nó an ‘Jes’ mar a thugtar air thart anseo i nGaillimh. Tá ríméad orm an oiread sin daoine aitheantais a fheiceáil agus mé in bhur gcuideachta le haghaidh an cheiliúrtha an-speisialta seo. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Athair John Humphries, le Mary Joyce, le Catherine Hickey agus le Bernie O’Connell a bhíonn i dteagmháil go rialta liom, as a gcuireadh fial agus libh go léir as an bhfáilte chroíúil sin.
[It gives me great pleasure to be here this afternoon at Coláiste Iognáid, (or ‘The Jes’ as it is known around ) Galway. I am delighted to see so many familiar friends and faces as I join you for this very special celebration. I would like to thank Fr. John Humphreys, Mary Joyce and Catherine Hickey for their very kind invitation and Bernie O’Connell who is in regular contact with me, and all of you for that warm welcome.]
Coláiste Iognáid is, of course, the school which was attended by my own children so it is a particular pleasure to have been invited here to celebrate the official opening of your newly upgraded campus. It is no secret that it was the holistic ethos, sense of community and culture of personal development and social responsibility that first attracted so many to this school and, as a parent and now President, I am deeply grateful to Coláiste Iognáid for your contribution to the Irish education system.
I know that last year you celebrated 150 years of Jesuit education here at Sea Road, a time when you looked back at a very different country and a very different educational landscape for Irish children. The Ireland of the late nineteenth century was one of poverty and harsh social conditions – an Ireland where a second level education was a great luxury and a third level education an impossible dream for the vast majority of Irish children. This was a set of circumstances that prevailed until just over a half century ago.
Today we are an independent, multi-cultural nation, and confident members of a global community, with all the possibilities and obligations that this entails. We have gained our own unique voice in the European Union with the opportunity to contribute to the building of a European Union of prosperity and solidarity, while preserving our independence as a country. We are a well educated society and a country that has made considerable progress towards the elimination of discrimination against citizens based on class, gender, physical and mental ability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. We are a country that has emerged from more than thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland arising from our divided history and the foundations have been laid for peace and reconciliation. We are, indeed, a country that has much to be proud of as we review our journey over the last century and a half.
The Jesuits, through their commitment to educating, and developing the capabilities and potential, of the many generations who have passed through their schools has played no small part in the creation of this greatly transformed nation. By arming so many of our citizens with a good education they handed them a critical tool in life; one which would allow them to go out into the world and make their mark in their communities, their workplaces and their wider society.
Here at Sea Road, as we look back across the years, we can see how the journey towards the modern Ireland we know today has been mapped by the growth and ever-changing landscape of Coláiste Iognáid.
By becoming an Irish-medium school in 1931 you reflected an Ireland whose people had developed a renewed pride in their national culture and identity following many years of British rule. In 1967 you became part of the non fee paying system of secondary education – a system which signaled the dawning of a new era where the vast majority of our children could expect to complete their secondary school education and where a significant number would eventually progress to further education. And of course, in 1984 you had the distinction of becoming the first co-educational secondary school in this City, marking yet another milestone as our education system continued to adapt to an ever-changing society. My daughter, Alice-Mary, was in that class.
Inniu, is céim eile chun cinn atá á tógáil ag Coláiste Iognáid ar thuras leanúnach an fhoráis agus an campas nua iontach seo á oscailt. Le críochnú na seomraí ranga nua, comhaimseartha agus saintógtha seo, na saoráidí úrscothacha agus an lárionaid spóirt, níl amhras ar bith orm ach go leanfaidh an scoil seo ag baint amach na gcaighdeán as a bhfuil cáil uirthi agus ag an am céanna go mbeidh tairbhe ag a cuid daltaí as an éiteas a thugann aitheantas don tábhacht a bhaineann le taithí saibhir agus éagsúil a chur ar fáil dá daltaí le linn dóibh a bheith i gColáiste Iognáid.
[Today, the opening of your impressive new campus sees Coláiste Iognáid take yet another step forward on your continual journey of advancement and progression.
With the completion of these new, contemporary and custom-built classrooms; state-of-the art facilities; and an outstanding sports complex, I have no doubt that this school will continue to achieve the high standards for which it is renowned, while allowing its pupils to benefit from an ethos which recognises the importance of providing its pupils with a rich and diverse range of experiences during their time in Coláiste Iognáid.]
The exhibition of the thirteen display stands which I have just had the privilege to view, bears witness to the incredible energy and breadth of opportunity which characterises the life of this school community. The range and breadth of opportunities provided to students is impressive and recognizes the many talents and skills that we can bring to our communities and to our society.
Some of the students here may excel at sports, others may shine in more creative and artistic fields; some of you will have great leadership qualities, or impressive organizational skills, or great academic ability – but I am confident that all of you have been given that all important opportunity at Coláiste Iognáid to play your part and make your own unique contribution to the life of the school. It is an ethos which I hope you will carry forward with you into your adult lives, continuing to make your own valuable and inimitable input wherever life may take you.
You are indeed fortunate to attend a school like Coláiste Iognáid; a school with the vision and imagination to prepare and inspire you to live full and meaningful lives.
Of course, I know that the last three years of this ambitious building project cannot have been easy. I commend Fr. Humphreys who has been the main driving force behind the refurbishment of the school and the on-going fundraising for this project.
Fr. Humphreys’ efforts have secured the continued success of this school for the coming decades and for this, the whole-school community owes him a depth of gratitude.
I would also like to thank the staff and all those involved in the success of this school for their commitment and dedication to the pupils of Scoil Iognáid.
And finally, of course, I would like to commend all of the students here for making such a special effort today to welcome me to the school and for being so attentive during my remarks.
I know that many of you have just finished your mock examinations and are preparing for house exams or State-certificate exams later in the summer term. But I am pleased that you have taken time out to enjoy today’s special celebration.
Guím gach rath agus sonas oraibh go léir, agus tá súil agam go mbeidh gach deis agaibh amach anseo, agus go ndéanfaidh sibh iarracht i gcónaí leas a bhaint as an gcumas pearsanta, na tallanna agus na scileanna atá agaibh ar mhaithe le bhur gclanna, bhur bpobail agus bhur sochaí.
[I wish you all a happy, successful future, full of opportunity and I hope that you will always strive to use your personal potential, talents and skills for the benefit of your families, your communities and your society.]
Thank you very much.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go leir.