Kildare school & Chinese ambassador celebrate links
KTCS Head boy Michael Connolly and Head Girl Aine Sheerin with the Chinese Ambassador H.E. ZHAO Xiyuan for the unveiling of the Confucius Classroom plaque.
KILDARE Town Community School (KTCS) welcomed Ireland’s Chinese Ambassador, H.E. ZHAO Xiyuan, for a special ceremony on Friday, 28 February.
The ceremony marked the unveiling of the school’s Confucius Classroom Plaque. This event celebrated the strong and growing ties between the school and University College Dublin (UCD) Confucius Institute.
The event commenced with a brilliant performance by the KTCS school choir and Irish dancers before Principal John P Hayes officially opened the ceremony.
Guest speakers included Former Ceann Comhairle TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl and Professor Liming Wang, Director of UCD Confucius Institute Ireland, both of whom spoke passionately about the importance of fostering connections between Ireland and China through education, language, and cultural appreciation.
A highlight of the event was the inspiring presentation by KTCS students, who shared their experiences from their recent trip to China, where they had the incredible opportunity to visit Beijing and Xi’an.
The celebrations continued with a breathtaking performance by the KTCS Irish dancers. The combination of Irish and Chinese cultural elements throughout the event highlighted the beauty of cross-cultural collaboration and the spirit of unity that education fosters.
Principal Hayes said: “A special thank you to KTCS School Leadership Team, the Board of Management Ms Keogh and Ms Kavanagh, whose dedication and hard work ensured that the choir and dancers delivered an unforgettable performance.”
“This visit was a landmark occasion for KTCS, reinforcing our reputation as a school that values global engagement, cultural diversity, and academic excellence.”
“It was truly a day to remember, and we are incredibly proud of our students, staff, and entire school community for making it such a resounding success,” he concluded.
