Saudi Ambassador visits Athlone summer school

Shannon Academy has said it was honoured to have the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Ireland Nayel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir visit their summer school on Tuesday last.

“We have been working with Tariq Alyahya, the Director of Wathiq, for over 15 years and he arranged this visit. The students were extremely excited and appreciative of the attendance of the ambassador,” said Caoimhe O’Connell, Director of Shannon Academy.

"It is always a pleasure to welcome our Saudi Arabian students. It is wonderful to experience new cultures and to teach them about ours."

Ambassador Nayel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir spoke to the students in Coláiste Chiaráin about the importance of their role as representatives of their country and encouraged them to be future leaders.

The group are a mixture of private students and students from KANYA: The Association for Saudi Arabian Orphans.

“Shannon Academy welcomes students from all over the world. We are extremely lucky to have Athlone as our base, it offers a vast variety of activities and amenities. We see our organisation as a tribe all working together as a community. Our host families and staff play a huge role in making each students stay a very personal and unforgettable experience,” explained Caoimhe O’Connell.

"We bring over 1,500 students to the town each year which helps provide employment, extra income for host families and a huge input into the local economy," she added.

Shannon Academy was established in 2001 by school director Caoimhe O’Connell. What started as an English language summer school for Spanish and French students has since grown and developed into a year-round, multicultural establishment offering several innovative programmes.