West Side Story - The Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School

Headmaster’s WelcomeA very warm welcome to our Annual Prize Giving. The Abbeyschool community gathers tonight to celebrate the manyoutstanding successes of the past year in terms of academicachievements and also in terms of extracurricular activities and ourinvolvement in the wider community.This evening the graduatescelebrate that they achieved the best ‘A’ Level results in the school’shistory. We continue to glow in the success of the MacRory andHogan Cup wins and we applaud all who continue to contribute tothe disadvantaged, locally in our social outreach programme andinternationally in immersion projects to India, Kenya and Zambia.I would like to extend a warm welcome to our graduates. It is greatto see you back in the Abbey – many, many congratulations on allyour achievements.Also a special welcome back to the Abbey to ourdistinguished guest speaker tonight Brother Edmund Garvey.Brother Garvey taught in the Abbey from 1970 – 1984 leading aninnovative religion department. He was also the community leader inNewry before joining the Province Leadership Team. In 1990 he waselected as assistant to the Congregation Leader in Rome and in1996, the year of the beatification of Blessed Edmund Rice, he waselected Congregation Leader. During these twelve years Br Garveytravelled to all twenty six countries in which the Christian Brothershad missions.Br Garvey returned to Ireland in 2002 and has served as Director ofCommunications for the Christian Brothers. We are delighted heaccepted our invitation to return to the Abbey and be with us onceagain in the school which remembers him so fondly.On behalf of the Board of Governors I offer our thanks andappreciation to all associated with tonight’s celebration, past pupils,parents, staff and students.I wish to thank in a particular way the parents of all the studentsgathered tonight. I thank them for their continued support andloyalty.I also wish to thank and congratulate the entire staff of the Abbeyfor all their best efforts, commitment and dedication.In conclusion I hope that you all enjoy the presentation evening andI invite you to join us for light refreshments in the school canteen atthe end of the evening.Mr Dermot McGovernHeadmasterANNUAL PRIZEGIVING 2006 Page 1