Media Library

Speeches

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE “LIFE SKILLS COURSE”

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE “LIFE SKILLS COURSE” SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BLACK

Firstly, I’d like to say how delighted I am to have been invited to be with you today – and to be the one to present the awards certificates to the men who have completed the current run of the ‘life Skills’ course – which has been jointly organised by the St. Vincent De Paul – here at Black Lane – and the VEC – through the Liberties College. I would also like to mention those men who are based at the Salvation Army Shelter in York House and who are receiving awards today. I can see some familiar faces among you all – and I am happy to be able to meet you again today in different circumstances.

For all of you who have completed this course – including those of you who have been on the two earlier courses – I’d like to congratulate you on your achievement – and to wish you well in whatever direction you chose to go. By doing this course - I think you have taken a very significant step in your lives – perhaps the first step in opening up a whole new phase – in which you can continue to build on the skills that you have acquired here on the course – and from which you can move on to do different things – and go in other directions. I know that it would be impossible to compare you with each other – because you are individuals in your own right – with varying abilities and talents – different likes and dislikes – and with individual ambitions and outlooks. But on this course you have been given a start – and you can use it to the best of your own ability and judgement. As you move on and out to greater independence – there may be setbacks – and there may be times when you feel that you are not making progress. These difficult hurdles are part of all our lives – and we fall back on our knowledge and skills to overcome them. Overcoming these obstacles is itself an educational and enriching exercise – and one for which there are no certificates or awards - but you will be the better and wiser for having come through – and emerging with you dignity and self-esteem intact – and with a clearer focus on what you should be doing. You have been given a set of skills on this course – and I have no doubt that you will return again and again to what you have learned. That is as it should be.

You are fortunate to have been given this opportunity to take part in the course – and I would like to commend the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul at Black Lane – to the Salvation Army Shelter in York House - and the Principal and teachers at Liberites College – who have put on this course. I know too that there are a number of others involved with the men – personnel from the Eastern Health Board like Mary Kenny – the Development Officer – and others on the various Health Board Programmes. It is a true partnership between those who have been working in their own fields – using their own skills – but by coming together – have achieved something which is far greater than would have been possible – if each were to work in isolation. The secret of the success is that people who know their own business – who know what is required – and understand what is possible – have come together in a pooling of information – and a combining of resources - to produce something unique and positive. In the process – they have altered the lives of people who – for whatever reason – felt that they may have slipped back a little – and may have found that initial step too difficult to take.

By facilitating that first step – by making it possible for the men themselves to discover their own talents and abilities – and to realise that their destiny is very much within their own control – you have done them a great service. I want to congratulate every one of you - who has been involved in this partnership – to pay tribute to your vision and innovative spirit – in setting up this course – and in giving many people that vital chance to make a fresh start. I have no doubt that it will be emulated elsewhere – and rightly so – and will affect many lives – giving the participants a new quality of life – a new sense of their own self-esteem – and a new confidence to go on to better things.