Blessing of the new school, Scoil Chríost Rí, Cloughleigh, Ennis, April 5th, 2019
Welcome!
A Thaoisigh, a dhaoine uaisle, a phobal Dé – I welcome you all on this special occasionthe official opening and blessing of Scoil Chríost Rí anseo in Inis, Co. an Chláir. Lá iontach é seo do phobal Chloch Liath agus muid ag gábháil buíochas le Dia as ucht an áis iontach atá againn sa scoil nua álainn seo. Cuireann sé ríméad agus gliondar croí orainn ar fad go bfhuil an lá seo tagtha – beannú agus oscailt oifigiúil na scoile. Is mór an onóir dúinn a Thaoisigh go bhfuil tú inár measc inniu don lá speisialta seo!
The Central Role of Education
Today we stand in a place of learning as essential to our society as any university. It is in wellequipped schools like this one that the battlefor better lives for allwill be fought and won. It is here that the future will be built. There is a special spirit here in Scoil Chríost Rí, a spirit enthused and enlivened by a strong Catholic ethos, inclusive, open to all repectful of all traditions and faiths and none. Friendliness, welcome, fun, sport and Music oozes out of the walls in the tradition of this great school. So many times I have been deeply inspired by the outstanding liturgies enlivened by the multi-talented students here. This is mainly due to the outstanding work and encouragmenet of a wonderful staff, a great team, a good management and very supportive parents and community all round.
There is a Chinese proverb: ‘If you plant for a year, plant a seed, if for ten years plant a tree but if you plan for 100 years then educate the people’. May that seed of education firmly planted here in this beautiful new place of learning bear much fruit in the future!
Congratulations and Best Wishes
I offer my warmest congratulations to everyone concerned with this work for the studentsof theCloughleigharea who have campaigned tirelessly for this facility. May God bless this school, the school communityand all who have madethis splendid place oflearningpossible.
Rath Dé ar obair na scoile agus gach duine a thiocfeas tríd na doirse anseo i Scoil Chríost Rí.
Amen.