REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE MILLENNIUM GARDEN ON MONDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 1998
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE MILLENNIUM GARDEN ON MONDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 1998
Friends,
I am delighted to be in Leixlip today to officially open your impressive millennium garden. It is one of my more enjoyable tasks as President to visit schools to meet pupils, teachers and parents. I am especially glad to meet the students and staff of Coláiste Chiaráin, members of the Board of Management, Public Representatives, and residents of Leixlip.
Reflective places in schools such as chapels and commemorative gardens have become important breathing spaces for pupils and staff as they seek time for thought and reflection in their busy timetables. As you are probably aware I have just returned from Belgium remembering those who died in the First World War.
Local commemorative places such as your millennium garden are important reminders of the contribution of people who have passed away. I am especially glad that many of the bereaved families of the school community are with us here today.
Leixlip is steeped in history. Leixlip was on the historic border between the lands of Gael and Gall. Its situation at the confluence of the Rye or Kings River and the Liffey is now to be marked by a splendid monument by teacher Mr. Jarlath Daly which I will unveil later today. I am delighted that several members of staff and pupils, past and present, have documented Leixlip’s past and helped to bring that past alive. I would especially like to congratulate your history teacher, Mr. Bob Cullen, for his trojan efforts in illuminating Leixlip’s heritage. Leixlip’s success has always been its ability to assimilate the old and the new. The parents of pupils here in Coláiste Chiaráin come from Kildare of course but also from Dublin and from North, south, East and especially the West. Leixlip’s situation near Dublin and on the Galway road has brought many advantages to the town in terms of economic prosperity and population growth.
This school has also responded magnificently to the presence on its doorstep of two of the largest examples of new technology investment in the State, namely, Intel and Hewlett Packard. Indeed the availability of progressive local schools and access to Maynooth University were key elements in attracting these companies in the first instance. A mutually beneficial relationship has grown up between local schools, both primary and secondary, and Leixlip’s industry with the provision of computers, industrial visits, school awards and scholarships. Coláiste Chiaráin has been in the vanguard of these developments. (The Department of Education and Science’s IT 2000 initiative will continue to augment the strong local efforts to prepare for the next millennium in the technological sense). The success of pupils in the Young Enterprise awards, ably promoted by Ms. Liz Maher, is just one recent spin-off from these developments. The fact that many past pupils have gained employment locally is another benefit of the technological revolution.
The millennium garden we open today will help present and future staff and students reflect on past efforts and also remember past pupils and staff who have died. The development of the garden is thanks to the hard work and foresight of Mr. Dan Broderick, as well as the hands-on assistance of Mr. Pádraig Rooney and his Transition Year team. This is a classic example of good practice in Transition Year.
Coláiste Chiaráin was built up by the current Acting Principal Mr. Seamus Ó Cuimín, and his predecessor Mr. Sean McCann who continues to play a pivotal role in serving Community schools nationwide as Secretary of the Association of Community school. Ms. Josephine Meagher as Deputy Principal together with a dynamic staff - academic, administrative and ancillary – have helped the school develop in an impressive manner.
I understand that this school is very much part of the community here in Leixlip. Its impressive day-time and adult education programmes are augmented by an extensive range of night classes that range from Music Classes to Computer Studies. It combines academic and practical curricular excellence with a living policy of inclusion, and more importantly, the practice of inclusion for minority groups from at home and abroad.
The schools sporting tradition in Gaelic games, Soccer and Athletics in particular is well known. Good relationships with local clubs such as St. Mary’s GAA, the Amenities Centre and Leixlip United as well as Leixlip Athletic and Barnhall rugby clubs have helped foster talent and develop participation. The great march of Kildare in this year’s championship was helped in no small way by past pupil Ronan Quinn. The world class athlete David Matthews also won sports person of the year in the school before going on to represent Ireland in the Olympic Games. The presence on the staff of former Kildare Gaelic Football Manager and player Mr. Eamon O’Donoghue is another source of inspiration for local sporting talent.
I will now proceed to officially declare your millennium garden open and hope you all have many happy and productive years of helping this garden grow in the heart and soul of Coláiste Chiaráin and the Leixlip community generally.