President Visits College

President Mary McAleese visited St Colman’s on the morning of November, 30th 2009. After visiting the chapel she made her way to the Sports Hall along the main corridor which was lined by our junior boys. The senior students were already seated in the Sports Hall and as she entered, the Choir sang All are Welcome. This was followed by the Presidential Anthem and then, Mr Declan McDaid welcomed the President and invited Canon Brown to greet President McAleese and Dr Martin McAleese on behalf of the College Community. In his address, Canon Brown said, It is a privilege for our students to be in your presence and to have someone as inspirational as you are, President McAleese, speak to them. We as a school community are so proud to have you as our President and so impressed with you representing us as a nation. What you do and your insights offered as you speak provide inspiration for us and I wish to acknowledge the tremendous role model you are for adults and youth alike

President McAleese then delivered an inspirational address. Her message to the students was to urge them to be the best they could, to take the opportunity that was offered to them and make the most of it. She talked about the Education Act of 1947 which offered the prospect of learning to students whose financial circumstances had previously dictated that they leave school at fourteen. Education was no longer the domain of the elite. She told the students to value and treasure the tuition they were receiving and to put it to good use.

She spoke about the divisions of the past and the need for this generation of students to bring Ireland forward and prosper.. Referring to St Colman’s motto, she highlighted the importance of Bonitas, expressing her wish that our students would show the kindness and human decency it implies throughout their lives. It would be wonderful, she remarked if they were all able to say at the end of their lives that they had made the world a better place, but, if that were not possible, then at least they should aim at not doing anything to make it worse.

Commenting on recent celebrations she had attended marking various anniversaries, she emphasised that often it was young men and women of nineteen or twenty who had initiated movements that had made a difference such as Free Legal Aid and the Simon Community. She urged them in turn to be legends in their time and that being a legend could amount to simply being someone known in their own circle as a good friend, a decent human being, a person of principle. It did not always have to be a prodigy or someone famous. She referred to the many football legends who had started their football careers in St Colman’s and had gone on to be legends in Gaelic football. St Colman’s was and still is synonymous with Gaelic games and success in MacRory and Hogan Cups.

The President answered questions from a number of students and then proceeded to the Assembly Hall to meet members of staff and the student leadership team.