Hello everybody. I’m delighted to welcome you here this evening. Special welcome to Valerie, to all of Niall’s friends and family.

I know these occasions are difficult, because we’re here for a very sad reason. But we’re also here talking about a spectacular and wonderful life. Sometimes it can be difficult to deal with the mixture of those things, but I think the programme we have here tonight is a way through that – something for everyone.

In Trinity, our campus is the way it is partly because of McCullough Mulvin and all you’ve done. For us, actually, one of the highlights that has happened in the last week is the opening of Printing House Square. It’s the first new square in two hundred years in Trinity. But most importantly, it’s a building that accommodates students, that has the most amazing health facilities and disability space for students and staff. And I think it’s really poignant that Niall wasn’t here to see it - but it’s really, really important that this type of building opens now at a time when students are crying out for accommodation, and a time when the sort of services that it offers in the building – the health services – matter so much.

And I think – lucky us – that on top of all of that, the building is magnificent and beautiful, and that’s the experience we’ve had in Trinity through engaging with Niall and Valerie. We’ve been so lucky to have, what I think is a lovely campus anyway, made more lovely in a very meaningful way that aligns with what we want to achieve.

So, I feel very privileged that Valerie agreed to have this event here. I’m so looking forward to hearing the wonderful talks that are lined up. And I really do hope you all feel welcome and very much enjoy the evening – despite the very complex situation, but wonderful nonetheless.

So thank you very much for joining us this evening. 

—Dr. Linda Doyle, Provost, Trinity College Dublin