President Michael D Higgins visits KCS
Thursday 14th November marked a historic day in the story of Kinsale Community School as we welcomed President Michael D. Higgins. It was a momentous occasion both for the school and the local community as President Higgins was welcomed by Mr McCarthy (Principal), Sr Rita Twomey (Chairperson of the Board of Management), the students of Kinsale Community School, staff, guests and pupils from local primary schools. Proceedings began with the unveiling of the 1916 Proclamation which is a beautiful feat of engineering commissioned by the school from Graepel Engineering in Kinsale.
The President was then welcomed by the KCS Leaving Certificate class in the newly designated Michael D. Higgins Hall; and unveiled a plaque for both himself and Sabina Coyne on the KCS Wall of Fame. He then paid a visit to students in the ASD unit and took some time to speak with them. Leaving Certificate students proudly formed a guard of honour to welcome the President to the new school sports hall.
The ceremony began with a welcome from the master of ceremonies Mr Ger Hogan, Deputy Principal and a blessing of Kinsale Community School by Rev. Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross and Rev. Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. This was followed with an address by Chairperson of the Board of Management Sr Rita Twomey and Principal Fergal McCarthy.
President Higgins then addressed the school community and invited guests with a truly inspirational speech. He remarked that Irish people had a long history of emigration and sending money home. He recalled the tough times growing up in Ireland in the 1950s. President Higgins also spoke of the inclusive nature of KCS and its three rights – the right to learn, the right to be happy and the right to be different.
Head Boy Cathal Flynn and Head Girl Victoria Bollard also made a presentation of specially commissioned Kinsale Silver to the President.
The ceremony was followed with light refreshments which were served by students and staff on the Michael D Higgins hall along with music prepared by Ms Brid Kearney, Ms Sinead Brennan and a number of music students. Sisters Eva Crowley and Ellen Crowley played Piano and Violin and Fearghus Walsh on Uilleann pipes.
The event was covered by a number of media. To find out more, click on the links below:
President of Ireland Official Website - Listen to audio of Presidents Speech
RTÉ News - Report by Jennie O’Sullivan
REDFM News - Report by Fiona O’Donovan
News Talk - Report by Marita Moloney
