SPEECH BY PRESIDENT McALEESE COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF FORÓIGE KILLKENNY
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT McALEESE COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF FORÓIGE KILLKENNY 14TH NOVEMBER 2002
Is mór an pléisiúir dom bheith i bhur measc inniu ag an ocáid seo agus tá me buíoch díbh as an chuireadh a thug sibh dom teacht anseo.
It gives me great pleasure to be here today at Coláiste Cois Súire in Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Foróige at the site of the first Foróige Club.
I would like to thank Foróige’s Chairperson, Ms Ann Mullins and the Director, Mr Michael Cleary, for inviting me, as it affords me the opportunity to tell you how deeply appreciated is your work and commitment to all the young people involved in your Clubs. It is also a great opportunity for me to congratulate Foróige on the excellent work it has carried out over the past 50 years.
This year celebrates 50 years of Foróige investment in our young people, empowering them to become consciously and actively involved in their own development and in the development of society.
The first club meeting of Foróige was held nearby on the 14th March 1952, in what was the Old Vocational School. I believe that our special guest this evening, Mr Seamus Doran, who is originally from County Wexford, was the leader of that first club and he is here with us today with his wife, Kathleen. A special welcome to you both. Also with us today is the longest serving leader and ex-chairperson of Foróige, Mr John Sullivan, almost 40 years a volunteer! Congratulations and a sincere ‘thank you’ for those countless unpaid hours of volunteering that helped change the course of so many young lives, gave them happy memories and the self-confidence to make good choices in their lives.