Teachers and Students;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is great to be in Thurles today. And it is a particular pleasure for me to join with the staff, pupils, and friends of the Ursuline Secondary School for this celebration of talent, commitment and achievement in debating and the performing arts.
This is also an occasion on which we pause to reflect on the life of my former Party colleague, the late David Molony. David was a highly valued and respected member of the Dáil and Seanad. He was imaginative. He was frank, an eloquent speaker, a courageous doer and an able legislator. He left a legacy of social progress to his community and we remember him with fondness and esteem here today. Ar dheis Dé go riabh a anam.
I would like to welcome, in particular, David’s wife Eve on this special day. David’s personal qualities as a public representative made him a great role model for our youth. And, as a marvellous public speaker, it is fitting to remember him through a special award recognising students' achievements in public speaking, debating and the performing arts.
This is a great school. The Ursuline Order has a long history of dedication to the educational and holistic development of generations of girls and I would like to acknowledge that commitment here today.
It is now 225 years since Sr. Anastasia Tobin first brought the light of learning to local Catholic girls here in Thurles. With a backdrop of penal laws, social turbulence and poverty, this took enormous courage, vision and faith on her part. But she succeeded.
Amongst your many activities here are public speaking and the performing arts, with a particular focus on music. The St. Angela’s Academy is a shining example of commitment to the performing arts with its dedication to the promotion of musical accomplishment. Your participation and successes in public speaking competitions is also noteworthy and commendable.
In the modern world of high speed communication and social networking, there is the capacity to reach and engage more people than ever before yet public speaking remains as much an art form as it was in the days when Edmund Burke, Daniel O’Connell or Charles Stewart Parnell were captivating their audiences with the passion and eloquence of their oratory.
In today’s world, participation in public speaking still offers tremendous benefits for young people – not least in terms both of building confidence and imparting knowledge. And because you will ultimately shape our future, it is important that you can communicate effectively on issues that concern not just yourselves but the wider community as well as your country. Public speaking is also important to many careers and professions these days from business to the public service, HR, PR and not least to politics!
Of course, the performing arts and public speaking have much in common. For one – there’s a lot of preparation. There is also a lot of practice. They each require creativity, flair and focus. You get just one chance to perform – if you hit the wrong key or chord in your RIAM exams for example – you cannot simply start your piece again!
But public speakers aren’t born! They are made. It is a skill that, like so many others, has to be nurtured and encouraged. And you certainly get plenty of that here. The development of those skills, along with your other activities and academic work will help you each to realise your full potential, and ultimately empower you to become active participants in our democratic society.
So I commend all of you assembled here who have worked so hard, preparing, participating and training. But the environment here has also been ideal thanks to the very talented and committed team of teachers which is at the core of the success of the Ursuline Secondary School. Working together as a team, they have equipped you with the skills, confidence and qualities to help you to be your best and to ultimately build a better Ireland. I have no doubt the teaching team here will continue to respond to our continually changing world in a similarly innovative manner.
In paying tribute to the very committed teaching staff here, I would like to mention, in particular, Sr. Berchmans who will retire in June after 29 years of dedicated service.
Sr. Berchmans has been a leading light in this school I would like to thank her for enriching it with her vigour, energy and remarkable commitment to each of the girls who have studied under her stewardship over the past three decades. She has been unwavering in her loyalty to the vision of St. Angela Merici - the foundress of the Ursuline Order and is a credit to the Order. I am sure you will all join with me in wishing Sr. Berchmans a long and happy retirement!
Before we discover who the winner of the coveted David Molony award is, I would like to first wish each of you every success in the years ahead. It is wonderful to visit a school that has done so much to equip students with the knowledge and confidence to build a better society and I am sure each of you here today will continue to do your school proud in the years ahead.
Thank you for your attention.