John Brennan, one of the founding teachers at the school, was head of history until his death two years ago and a second cousin of the Irish President. 

 

At his landmark visit to Enniskillen and to Erne Integrated College Mr Higgins spoke openly about the family connection and along with wife Sabina on Wednesday met Mr Brennan’s  wife, Mrs Colleen Brennan, her son Colm and daughter Nessa, a year 11 student at the school. Nessa presented the President with a copy of her late father’s  thesis, on ‘The role of the Chaplains in the 1st World War’. 

 

An invitation was extended earlier this year, on behalf of the school, to the President, inviting him to visit the college, which celebrated its 21st anniversary on September 1 , 2015. 

 

The doors of the school opened on September 1, 1994, with 60 students and seven permanent teachers, at Silverhill Manor. John Brennan was one of the founding teachers and the highly regarded and respected member of staff remains sadly missed by all those at the school.

 

Both the Irish President and his wife are supporters of Integrated Education and of the ‘Educate Together’ movement in the South; and he spoke very openly about these in his speech and to the Fermanagh Herald, where he stressed his wish that integrated education would develop “at a much faster speed”.

 

New principal at Erne Integrated college Jimmy Jackson-Ware was delighted to welcome the President to the school.

 

“We see it as a great endorsement of Integrated education and the work all staff are involved in and young people in this school.”

 

He continued: “I thought he was a very warm person, very engaging and I think what I was most impressed with was the fact he was very interested in what was happening in the school and what I had to say about the school. I would like to add that I found Sabina very engaging also and she displayed a genuine interest in what we’re about at this school.

 

“He set us very much at ease with his manner and his warm engagement and it made us feel very much at ease as well and I think that helped for the success of the day.”

 

Vice-chairman of the Erne Integrated College Board of Governors Mark Edwards met the President and sat beside him in the school hall during the performances laid on by students. He admitted it was quite a “nerve-wracking experience”, but it was a great honour he enjoyed.

 

“He’s a very genuine man and showed real genuine enthusiasm for what the school offered in terms of the wee drama play and his wife Sabina she was very interested in the play itself. He actually gave a very genuine and energetic speech on integration and the campaign they have themselves. It was a very nice occasion.”