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North / South Schools Link
It was a great honour for me to be a part of the visit of Mr Blair and Mr Ahern to our school. I was happy for the people involved but was disappointed because I did not get to ask a question after all the preparation. However it was a great day for St Aidans. Andrew Donlon.
	Hi I’m Stephen Reid and I was at this very unique day in St. Aidan’s. I presented the Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern, with a piece of cut glass bearing the St. Aidan’s crest and motto. I was very happy to have this honour. I gave the piece to Mr. Ahern and he was clearly very happy. He was so down to earth, I was surprised. I shook his hand and I felt really privileged standing beside him for the photographs. I then went back to my seat. It was brief but brilliant. Stephen Reid
To begin with I wasn’t nervous at all, and because of this I began to worry. But it wasn’t until the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister walked into the hall that the event’s importance hit me. It was then that I realised the amount of media coverage that was present. I almost panicked but after the huge applause the two guests of honour received I calmed down. After all, the only important job I had to do was stand up in front of everybody! and control the microphone. But just before the ceremony began I was relieved of my duty by none other than the police as my microphone was interfering with their radios. The whole conference in itself was fantastic. Mr. Blair and Mr. Ahern worked well with each other and gave some interesting answers. The event was controlled well by Br. Cashel and Mr. O’Neill. All in all I really had a good day and all the hard work paid off. Well until our schools speak again. Marc Farrell
	I was very happy to have the Taoiseach of Ireland and the Prime Minister of England at my school. I was chosen to question the Taoiseach on whether he thought Dublin would get to the next All Ireland Final. It was a great experience for me. There were a lot of cameras and reporters about. I was very nervous. There was a lot of security in the schools Gárdaí on horses, Gardaí with dogs and a Gárda helicopter. Everyone in the school had to go through a metal detector! It was a great day for the schools and it turned out very well. Raymond Dunne.
My name is Greg Fitzpatrick. I am in 2A class. On 26^th November 1998 Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern came to our school to launch the "North/South Schools Link" . I was one of the people to put questions to the Prime Minister and Taoiseach. They were really sound and "down-to-earth". I will remember that day for a long time to come.
	Yesterday was a momentous occasion when Tony Blair visited our school. I was one who asked a question of the Prime Minister. We took our places one hour before Mr Blair arrived. When I heard that Mr Blair had arrived I forgot my question. I quickly pulled myself together and was ready to ask it but unfortunately there was not enough time. I enjoyed the day a lot and I was glad to have taken part in such an historic occasion. Kevin Sammon.
It was really weird to be sitting there and to hear that the Prime Minister and Taoiseach were to arrive in five minutes. It was then I realised how important this actually was - it was history in the making - and I was involved!!! The media attention was unbelievable. Greg and I were surrounded by the press and radio, it was an unbelievable experience. When the leaders arrived the atmosphere in the hall was electric. Both of them acted informally which helped to put the students at ease. They answered every question clearly and fully, something politicians are not always good at.
		When the time came for Greg and me to ask our questions we moved off the stage and we began. As I asked the question Mr Blair kept eye contact with me and seemed genuinely interested in what I was saying. Mr Blair answered the question completely and really got his point across. When they both left and I had a chance to think about what I had been involved in, it really sank in - I had been involved in a part of history! What a day!!! Alan Sherlock
I was selected to present Prime Minister Blair with the Dublin Crystal dish. For a man of such power I thought he was incredibly normal. It was disappointing for me that so many people from the media took my name and yet it was never mentioned. But it was a great honour for me nonetheless. Seán Kilbride
	On a Monday in mid-November I was taken out of my class and joined by nine or ten others who were equally clueless as to what was going on. We were then told about the video link-up planned with the three other schools. Some people said they weren't interested but most of us stayed. During the three days of preparation we were informed that St Aidans CBS would be receiving the honour of a visit from An Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair. I was chosen to give a short presentation speech to the two dignitaries. When the day came I was terrified but somehow I managed to do it. There was lots of media coverage and I was interviewed afterwards. Niall Mc Carthy
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