VISIT BY PRESIDENT McALEESE TO ST. BRIGID’S BOYS SCHOOL, FOXROCK, DUBLIN 18 FRIDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2001
VISIT BY PRESIDENT McALEESE TO ST. BRIGID’S BOYS SCHOOL, FOXROCK, DUBLIN 18 FRIDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2001
It is a great pleasure to visit St. Brigid’s and to meet the staff and pupils. My thanks to your Principal,
Pat O Connell for inviting me here and to all of you for your wonderful warm welcome.
St. Brigid was a very special woman for her time given that practically every other saint was male in the 5th Century. She opened her door to the poor, the sick and the stranger and gave them shelter from the cold and food from her own table. It is wonderful to know that your school keeps the spirit of St Brigid alive into this new century. I am told that you raise funds for charity every year and that you also get involved in Operation Christmas Child (parcels for Central Europe) and closer to home the Christmas hamper appeal.
You will be the adults in the new century, and the lessons you learn at school, of sharing what you have, of caring for your friends and neighbours will help make you into caring and loving adults of the future.
School motto: ‘In St Brigid’s everyone succeeds’
Great credit is due to the Principal and staff at
St Brigid’s who work hard to ensure that every pupil can discover his own unique talent and gifts. Some boys excel in the classroom, some on the playing field, some are wonderful at art or have beautiful singing voices and some discover that they are great at making friends and getting on well with their fellow pupils and teachers. The school teaches you that every boy is special and precious in his own unique way.
I understand that there are many budding artists among the different classes and it is wonderful to see the beautiful art work on display today.
I am not surprised that the school takes great pride in its sporting achievements in Gaelic football, rugby and athletics given that you that have on the teaching staff famous sporting heroes such as Jerry Kiernan (Dublin City Marathon winner and Los Angeles Olympian, RTE sports analyst), and a past teacher was Sean Purcell (Galway footballer). The involvement of both the staff and parents in training and coaching teams means that there is no shortage of help and encouragement to make sure that St Brigid’s keep winning on the sports field.
I know that the principal and staff are very proud of all 460 boys who are pupils here. I have been told by your principal that you are exceptionally well behaved not just today because I am here, but every day! All the senior boys have signed a ‘student contract’ this year and so far not one boy has been reported for misbehaviour. Well done all of you. You only have five more months to go to make it a perfect record and I know you can do it!
I have had a wonderful visit to St. Brigid’s and I would like to thank you all for making my visit so special.