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REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE SCOIL MHUIRE, LUCAN 24TH MARCH 1999

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE SCOIL MHUIRE, LUCAN 24TH MARCH 1999

I am delighted to be here today in Scoil Mhuire. I would like to thank your Principal, Henry Thynne for his kind invitation and the Chairperson of the Board, Fr. Cotter, for his very warm welcome.

In a way, this is a return visit, because last year teachers and pupils from this school visited Áras an Uachtaráin. So I am delighted to be able to return the compliment.

You have a wonderful school here, a school which seeks to address the development needs of children in a truly holistic way. You have recognised that children require more than academic support in order to blossom. A rounded education must also address their social, cultural, creative, physical and spiritual development.

The encouragement which children receive in developing their musical gifts is just one example of this. Indeed, there can be few schools in which every child from first to sixth class can play the recorder. Even fewer have the opportunity to play with the No. 1 Army Band, under the baton of Comdt. Joseph Ryan. I would like to warmly commend Comdt.

Ryan and all the members of the band for joining so enthusiastically into the spirit of this celebration. I have no doubt that their encouragement will spur a few of the young musicians gathered here today to even greater heights of musical achievement. Scoil Mhuire is also renowned for its participation in sports and games, which are so important in supporting the physical, social and personal development of children, as well as providing a great deal of fun. However, with the forward-looking ethos which has always been a hallmark of the school, I understand you have also warmly embraced new technologies. Indeed I am reliably informed that your computer room has “state of the art” facilities.

I know that all of these activities do not happen by accident. They require a great deal of hard work, dedication and enthusiasm by your teachers. Yours is a difficult and demanding vocation, for if children are the building blocks of our future, you are the architects. It is said that what is learnt in childhood is engraved on stone. It is so important that children receive encouragement and praise, so that the messages that are engraved on their hearts and minds in childhood, are ones which will give them the confidence and self-esteem to be happy and fulfilled adults. It is clear that within this school, you have succeeded extraordinarily well in this task and I congratulate you sincerely on that.

The role of parents, the most important educators, is always vital. I am aware that in Scoil Mhuire, parents play an active and supportive role in conjunction with the school authorities, to provide the best educational opportunities for their children. I would like to pay tribute to you, the parents, and to the Board of Management, for your input into developing such a rich cultural environment in which the children can grow and learn.

Finally, I would like to thank the children. My main reason for coming here today is to meet you. I have really enjoyed listening to your music and I look forward to talking to some of you later on. You can be very proud of your school and of all your hard work in making it such a wonderful place to come to.

I wish all of you associated with Scoil Mhuire continued success in the future.