Address by President Connolly at Seamount College
Kinvara, Co Galway, 5 December 2026
A chairde,
Mar Uachtarán na hÉireann, I’m delighted to be here with you all today in Seamount College nestled in the uniquely beautiful village of Kinvara overlooking Kinvara Bay. May I thank Príomhoide Maighréad Mhic Dhomhnaill for the invitation to be with you all, and may I thank the student council representatives who welcomed me so warmly earlier.
What a beautiful location in which to be located – with the remains of the 7th-century Dunguaire Castle to the north-east, and the spectacular Burren mountains, relics of the Ice Age, extending to the south. I’m sure that it is an inspiring setting for learning and for the rounded education that Seamount provides its students.
I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet some of the 628 students and 50 staff of Seamount College today, returning to the school after a previous visit during which I saw a student exhibition of a project that had been completed on the topic of climate change and war and how these two issues are interconnected in a dangerous cycle: climate change worsening conflict by increasing resource scarcity and displacement of individuals, while war and military operations in turn exacerbating climate change through greenhouse gas emissions, destruction of infrastructure, and long-term environmental damage including air, water, and soil pollution, as well as threatening biodiversity and human health.
I welcome this opportunity today to meet more students, to view more student projects and visit a few classes before meeting you, the senior-cycle students, at this assembly.
I would like to hear from as many students as possible to find out what you want from your President. What is it that you would like me, mar Uachtarán na hÉireann, to do for young people like yourselves? What are the issues that are on your minds?
I promise not only to listen to you, but to do my best to be a platform to raise those issues that are most concerning you. Young people are the conscience of our society on issues from climate change to equality to international solidarity. I see it through your creativity, compassion and courage, how deeply young people care about the rights of oppressed people around the world and at home, people who feel marginalised or excluded.
I look forward to hearing from many of you, and thank you all once again for making this visit possible.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.