Students from Lucan Community College join the Obamas at the Gaiety

Two Lucan students, Aoife Greally and Joshua Odidison, joined local Fine Gael TD, Derek Keating, at the Gaiety Theatre yesterday for the special Riverdance performance which was staged for the Obama family. 

Deputy Keating said he was delighted to be able to assist the students in making their dream a reality by securing the invites for Aoife and Joshua, who were among just a small number of people permitted access to the event.

“These two students, along with their classmates – the students of Lucan Community College; their CSPE teacher, Ms. Marian Tobin; and Principal, Ms. Diane Birnie, worked diligently over the last number of months to produce hundreds of invitations, letters, cards and poems that were sent to President Obama and his family, asking them to pay a visit to Lucan Community College. A number of letters were also given to An Taoiseach before his trip to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day, to help further encourage a visit to the school.

“While a trip to Lucan Community School was always a big ask for such a brief trip, I was delighted to be able to facilitate Aoife and Joshua in representing all the students of Lucan Community College at this very special performance.

“Principal Birnie and the staff at the college have committed themselves to working tirelessly to ensure that the opportunities spoken about by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, are realised by the students. It is important that we encourage our children to think big and to be able to pick themselves up when they fall and to encourage them to aspire to great things.

“I have invited Aoife and Joshua and their families to visit Dáil Éireann with Principal Birnir and their CSPE teacher, Ms. Tobin, to discuss the development of an international twinning project with a school in the United States.”