REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF COLÁISTE ÉINDE
A chairde,
Tá lúcháir orm bheith anseo inniu i gColáiste Éinde le seachtó cúig bliain de thraidisiún glórmhar Gaelach a cheiliúradh libh. Tá a chion, agus níos mó ná a chion, déanta ag muintir an Choláiste seo thar na blianta i gcúrsaí oideachais agus i mbuanú chultúr na hÉireann. Tréaslaím an méid sin libh, agus molaim daoibhse, a scoláirí an lae inniu, leanacht leis an traidisiún seo, agus sibh ag an am céanna ag baint gach tairbhe agus is féidir as na háiseanna nua-aimseartha atá ar fáil daoibh anseo.
Hello everyone. It’s good to be here with you all today, to join with you as you celebrate this wonderful occasion in the history of this College.
There is a saying that I believe resonates with significance as I stand before you today. I’ve borrowed it from Bishop Martin Drennan who used it in a sermon and says ‘that those who drink the water should remember with gratitude those who dug the well’. What more apt sentiment for a day like today as we celebrate the past 75 years of Coláiste Éinde’s history – an exceptional teaching establishment that was borne at a time and out of a vision to recreate, through education, our unique Celtic culture that was in danger of being lost because of our history. The Government in those early years, wishing to re-establish Irish as the spoken language, set up preparatory colleges in Gaeltacht areas and young students from the Gaeltacht and those fluent in Irish were admitted into Coláiste Éinde. Very many of these young men successfully graduated to Teacher Training College and qualified as primary school teachers. It was this vision and mission that gave the school its coherence and strong foundation which allowed it to develop and flourish.
Colaiste Éinde has experienced many changes in the intervening years but what hasn’t changed is its record in academic excellence. Amongst your many claims to fame I believe is the fact that in 1930, students scored first places in Ireland in the then Intermediate Examination in Irish, History, Geography and Science.
You have had many more since and in so many walks of life here and abroad former students of this College were to be found - as scientists and lecturers, teachers, politicians, judges, businessmen, journalists and in the field of medicine. Other’s went on to be actors, writers, dramatists, poets and musicians, all with great distinction. What is so striking is the range and depth of talent that Coláiste Éinde nurtured from what is after all a relatively small pool of students. Truly remarkable by any standard and something that should swell your hearts with pride.
I believe that in addition to your record of academic achievement, the College through the years has had a strong tradition in extra-curricular activities such as debating, sports of all types, drama and music. In particular the ability and influence of some sports stars deserve mention including those who represented their country in international competitions such as the Olympics, and those who went on from being players of note in the GAA to being Presidents of some repute of that renowned body. That high level of achievement continues and in more recent years, one great athlete, competing in the Paralympics, won two gold, one silver and two bronze medals. A great achievement and one in which the whole school rejoiced.
The Coláiste Éinde that we know today is perhaps different from that of three quarters of a century ago but the values and beliefs and hopes of those who ‘dug the well’ are still to be found. Ireland has embraced an astonishing level of change in recent years, particularly in its social structure, and the education system has had to respond to a myriad of challenges as a consequence. Your College responded to these challenges with its customary enthusiasm, adapting as it needed to, to changed circumstances. It became co-educational (I’m sure that presented a fair share of headaches or as we prefer to call them these days – challenges !), the curriculum has changed much from the traditional classical model to a vastly expanded one designed to meet the needs of students well into the 21st Century. And innovative programmes, such as the Transition Year and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, have been introduced at Senior Cycle level.
I believe we owe a special vote of thanks to the teaching staff, past and present, for their commitment to the very important task of educating each new generation, moulding them and preparing them for adult life. A gentleman by the name of WC Sellar once said about the classroom that “for every person wishing to teach, there are thirty not wanting to be taught”. I’m sure that doesn’t apply at Colaiste Éinde. The success of its students at home and abroad is testimony to the partnership of effort at this school with staff and students meeting each other more than half way. That partnership which has sustained for so many years involves many more than teaching staff and students, it involves ancillary staff who work as secretaries, cleaners, caterers, maintenance staff, chaplains, - it involves members of boards of governors, parents, public representatives and community. So many people have invested part of their lives in the story of Colaiste Éinde and so many deserve our thanks. But ultimately it is the students who are the school’s truest ambassadors - they carry its values and its character into home, workplace and society. They have made it a proud name, and another generation is now set to take the baton, and in their own time and place, to do the same.
Comhghairdeas libh as an trí cheathrú céid a shlánú. Is mór an gaisce é. Guím rath agus séan ar mhuintir an Choláiste, idir mhúinteoirí agus dhaltaí agus bhainistíocht. Go maire sibh an céad.
Go raibh maith agaibh.