2019 College Captain’s Valedictory Address

2019 College Captain Aidan Hanrahan delivered this address at the Valedictory Dinner on Friday, November 22.

*Now I said to myself I wasn’t going to cry tonight but…*

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and for the last time ever, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Brothers, our journey together began way back almost six years ago now. We lost some along the way, to these fallen brothers we offer the phattest F, and we gained some too. We have learned so much about the

world, so much about each other, and so much about ourselves. While we may pass beyond these walls, our memories will always travel with us and let them be a reminder of what it was to be a Patty. Words will never do justice describing the bonds we have made at this College, some that will stand the test of time, some that will not. But that part is up to us now.

My brothers, our different and diverse backgrounds, our journeys through life and the paths we are on have all coincided for us to be here, in this moment, right now. Before this moment our lives have been relatively straightforward with the structures of school constantly guiding our paths, but tonight we stand upon the cusp of infinite possibility, with boundless freedom and potential.

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives, so shall be tomorrow, and so shall be the day after that. What will you do with yours? I cannot answer this question for you, nor can your teachers, nor the Great Anthony Meehan, but I implore you to do what fulfills you, pursue your dreams relentlessly, and always persist when times are tough.

As the great wordsmith Rocky Balboa said “it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” (Yeah, I practiced since last time)

Graduates, the least we can give is a hoorah to the people who make this College excellent.

• For the Staff, who guided and supported us through our years can I get a hoorah?
• For our families and friends, who were our rock and were there when we needed most, can I get a hoorah?
• And for the Clover, for St Pat’s, everyone who makes this school great and for ourselves can I get one more HOORAH?

Our time here is up, it is time to go, pass the baton to another cohort of brothers, because boys, we made it.

Ecka Dora!