Valedictory Address at Presentation Night “You can take the man out of Trinity … but you can’t take the Trinity out of the man.”
William Colreavy (12.3) Head Prefect 2013
Good evening Mr Banks, special guests, ladies and gentlemen and my fellow students. I speak to you tonight with a mixture of pride and humility, and invite you to share with us this important evening where we add another page to the traditions of our College, a night where we come together to recognise and celebrate, not only the achievements of individuals, but the successes, we as a community, have achieved throughout 2013. Although it seems not long ago that I first walked through the Centenary Gates as a timid Year 4 student – it now becomes the final chapter in our experience as students of Trinity College as the Class of 2013. As we come to the closing stages of our life at school we look beyond the steel blue gates and limestone walls and into an ever-changing world.
Similar to the works of Luther King, Edmund Ignatius sacrificed a lifestyle of comfort and wealth to strive for his dream in providing the children less fortunate with a well-rounded education in Ireland. A man who lived a life by the ethics of compassion, determination and humility sprouted an organisation that spread throughout the globe, providing an education to the poor. A defining trait shared between these two inspirational leaders is that they dreamed, pursued and achieved what many would have considered impossible and beyond the stretch of their imagination. It can be recognised that in fact Trinity College, as a community, is a product of Edmund, a man’s dream to have an impact in changing the world, through the influence of moulding young boys into fine young men, men ready-equipped with the values and education to strive manfully in the reality beyond the Centenary Gates.
I consider myself very privileged to have been given the opportunity to have attended Trinity College, for the tradition and communal elements that this school is founded on makes being a custodian of this tradition an honour to be proud of. Fifty years ago Martin Luther King spoke to a great people about their better future and provided a dream of equality and hope for a struggling nation. His dream was not to get elected and not to become rich. It was a dream that was for everyone to unite in the face of adversity. In months, years and now decades that followed Luther King’s pledge, his dream became our dream and great strides forward occurred and continue to happen every day. 46
The Colreavy family at the Senior leaders Assembly
