 St Aidan's CBS, Whitehall, Dublin, Ireland |
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| St Aidan's CBS, Whitehall, Dublin, Ireland |
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An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, on the invitation of the school principal, Mr. Jimmy Reynolds, paid his last visit to St. Aidan's in his capacity as leader of the Government and also as leader of the Fianna Fail party. A guard of honour, organised by Mr. A. Lynch, was in place to greet the Taoiseach as he arrived. He was then accompanied to the main hall where he recieved and enthusiastic reception from the assembled audience of Board Members, Parents, Teachers and Students.
Mr. Ahern was in relaxed form when he responded to Mr. Reynolds welcoming speech. He recalled his previous visits to the school, most notably the occasion he was accompanied by Tony Blair, then British Prime Minister. Bertie commented on the high standards pertaining in St. Aidan's as endorsed by the report which followed last year's whole school evaluation. He also pointed to the many past pupils, and the impact they have made at home and abroad, and in his intimate way, he added that he found past pupils stuck in every country he visited (sic).
Mr. Ahern then presented medals to the cross-country team, recent victors in the All-Ireland Senior Cross Country Championships. He recounted that his own athletics career was limited by his fallen arches and Br. Clarke RIP had bought him a special pair of spikes in Clery's to counteract the problem.
Mr. Padraig Naughton, chairman of the Board of Management, presented Bertie with a framed collage of his previous visits; Stephen McGuire presented his portrait of Bertie in school uniform; Mr. T. P. Ward presented him with a framed photograph from 1964-1965 showing Bertie as part of the school athletics team.
Mr. Ahern then officially opened the two room extension to the school. After a reception and photographs, Mr. Ahern continued his hectic shedule with a flight to Donegal from Dublin Airport.
Mr. T. P. Ward