Generous welcome for President at Kells school
President Mary McAleese travelled to Kells last Friday where she visited St Ciaran"s Community School. During her short visit, she paid tribute to staff and teachers and was high in her praise for the school"s Zambia Immersion Group. She told the crowd which had gathered to welcome her that Kells was well-known because of the Book of Kells, but in Africa it was well-known because of the work of students of St Ciaran"s Community School. Staff, pupils and parents were there to welcome Mrs McAleese when she arrived shortly after 11.30am and was met by the principal, Dermot Carney, and deputy principal, Kay O"Brien. She also met the chairperson of the board of management, Bro Frank Crummey, and was introduced to members of the parents" association and the student council. President McAleese entered the lobby of the school where she was shown a facsimile of the Book of Kells and Niall Conaty, a second year student, spoke to her about it. She then was invited to sign the visitors" book. The President then met the Zambia Immersion Group, including students, teachers and parents who have travelled in the last few years to Africa and will be travelling again this year as part of the development project. She then met with Gaisce Award students, Senan O"Connell, Denise Kiernan, Kieran Waldron and John Rowe. President McAleese also met BT young scientist participant, Paul Daly; national accordion champion, Evan Kelly; national target shooting champions, Paula and Laura Cunningham, and world champion handballer, Gary McConnell. Darragh Rennicks, national athletics champion; James Sheridan, national under-14 karate champion Brendan Murray, Maths Olympiad champion, and Ryan O"Reilly, GAA international player, were also introduced to the President. She then was escorted to the school gym where she received a warm welcome from students, staff and guests. Bro Crummey thanked her for coming and she was presented with flowers and a card by Stacey Caffrey and James O"Reilly. Mrs McAleese also received a copy of a school brochure, which bore the school"s mission statement which states that the school supports and encourages the academic, spiritual, moral and physical development of all students. The President paid tribute to the St Ciaran"s students and told that them that, in recessionary times like these, they would, by using their talents, take us out of the tough times we are in.