Last week the President of Ireland visited the DIT Bolton Street Campus – the home of NITL. He was the first visitor to an exhibition celebrating one hundred years of excellence in education in Bolton Street. Accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Sabina Higgins, the President was welcomed to DIT by Dr. Mike Murphy, Director and Dean of the College of Engineering and Built Environment.

The iconic Bolton Street building, with its imposing façade, was officially opened in January 1912. As President Higgins entered the building, he was escorted into the original main corridor and through a timeline display of historic photos, from the late 19th century and through the 20th century. Arriving at the modern extension to the campus, the President and Mrs. Higgins then met staff and students in an exhibition of current student projects and research.

President Higgins was later invited to address an assembly of students, staff, graduates and guests from industry and professional institutes. He spoke about his interest in the background of the Bolton Street building and all that has taken place there during its first one hundred years. While appreciating the historical artefacts on view in the centenary exhibition, President Higgins went on to warmly congratulate all of the students whom he met at the showcase of current research and innovation and he urged the students to continue to challenge ideas, to question how things are, and to continue to innovate.
 

Before his departure, the President unveiled a plaque, commemorating the centenary and his inaugural visit to Bolton Street, and accepted a memento of his visit, presented by Mr. Robert Simpson of the School of Mechanical and Transport Engineering. The audience stood to warmly applaud President and Mrs. Higgins as they left, greeting students and staff as they made their way from the auditorium.