Lord Mayor of Cork Launches School Visits with a Message of Kindness

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Fergal Dennehy, has officially begun this year’s programme of mayoral school visits, bringing a message of kindness to classrooms across the city.

On Wednesday morning, Cllr Dennehy visited four primary schools, the first of more than 130 schools he will meet over the coming weeks. The annual tradition will see him engage with thousands of pupils, teachers, and school staff, with a focus this year on the power of small acts of kindness.

Each student will receive one of over 40,000 specially designed bookmarks distributed as part of the visits. Featuring a photograph of the Lord Mayor, the bookmark encourages children to “mind each other every day” and includes examples of positive actions such as sharing a smile, giving compliments, and listening attentively.

Cllr Dennehy said the initiative was about counteracting negativity, particularly online:

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy:

“We live in a time when so much of what we see, especially online, can be full of hate, nastiness, and negativity. But the truth is, every one of us has the power to make the world a kinder, safer place, simply by looking out for each other. Small gestures may seem ordinary, but they have an extraordinary impact.”

He added that even one child taking the message to heart would make the visits worthwhile, as kindness is “contagious” and has the potential to ripple through families, schools, and the wider city.

This year’s programme almost faced disruption after strike action by school caretakers and secretaries last week. The Lord Mayor had postponed the first visits in solidarity with them, but with the strike lifted, the tradition was able to proceed.

Cllr Dennehy described the school visits as one of the highlights of his mayoral year:

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy:

“As Lord Mayor, it is a true honour and privilege to begin this year’s programme of school visits. These visits are always among the highlights of the mayoral year, offering a special opportunity to connect directly with our youngest citizens, the students who represent the future of Cork.”

The tradition of school visits dates back to 1920 when it was introduced by Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney. Over a century later, the programme continues to strengthen the connection between City Hall and Cork’s school communities.

Reflecting on his first day of visits, Cllr Dennehy said he was inspired by the imagination of the questions he was asked by pupils, ranging from thoughtful discussions about the future of Cork to light-hearted queries such as whether he lives in a castle.

He said he looks forward to meeting many more schools in the weeks ahead and continuing the long-standing tradition of fostering civic pride and community connection among Cork’s youngest citizens.