Presidental Visit For Ballyclare

A leading Co Antrim school had a special visitor this week, as the Belfast-born and educated President of Ireland Mary McAleese came to town.

She met pupils, teachers and governors at Ballyclare High School, having requested the visit after meeting representatives from the school at her official residence in Dublin in 2006.

The President was greeted on arrival by Headmaster David Knox and Chairman of the Board of Governors Dr Robert McMillen, before being shown to the assembly hall, where she heard a recital of Irish-composed music from the chamber choir and soloists.

The visitor is pictured here as she arrived, just before she addressed the gathered Year 13 and 14 pupils.

"We have just heard some stunning music from a beautiful soprano soloist and pianist and, on their own, they sound wonderful, but put them all together into what is an outstanding chamber choir and the result is sheer excellence," she said.

"And this is true, too, of your generation - if you perfect your own talents, skills and values and are willing to work together with others, then out of this will come a very different Northern Ireland and a very different island of Ireland."

When asked by an A-level politics student as to how she predicted Northern Ireland would look in ten years time, she continued: "I think Northern Ireland has phenomenal potential and, using the sheer amount of resolve and new brainpower in your generation, I think we can make a conscious move away from the idea of two communities and work towards one community and one society."

Headmaster Mr Knox said: "It was an honour and privilege to have the President of Ireland with us here today and hear her inspirational words to the pupils. Her visit has not only brought a great sense of excitement to the pupils and the teachers, but also a sense of pride that she should request to visit Ballyclare High.

"We are proud of all our achievements here and are delighted that we had the opportunity to showcase some of them to one of the most powerful women in the world," he said.

(BMcC/GK)