Speech at a Reception for the GAA Handball Squad
Áras an Uachtaráin, 13th January, 2016
A Dhaoine Uaisle,
Ar an gcéad dul síos is mian liom fíorchaoin fáilte a fhearadh romhaibh ar fad chuig Áras an Uachtaráin tráthnóna. Is mian liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le Sheán Ó Ceallaigh, Bainisteoir Náisiúnta Liathróir Láimhe Chumann Luthchleas Gael as ucht scríobh chugam faoin éacht a bhain sibh amach i gCalgary Cheanada anuraidh, agus libhse ar fad as ucht a bheith i láthair inniu.
[Ladies and Gentlemen,
Firstly, may I welcome you all to Áras an Uachtaráin this afternoon. I wish to thank Seán Ó Ceallaigh, National Manager of GAA Handball for writing to me about your achievement in Calgary, Canada, last year, and all of you for attending today.]
Representing your country on the international stage is the ultimate achievement for any sportsperson. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to pay tribute to you, directly, for representing Ireland so admirably.. The fact that the Irish handball squad brought home with you 20 medals is indeed proof of your skills and talent.
It would be difficult to discuss Irish culture and Irish history without acknowledging the central role that the GAA has played in this country for many, many years and how closely intertwined it is with local communities and with Irish society as a whole.
At the current moment is a great source of pride for me personally and I'm sure for all the people of Ireland to see our national sports being played and appreciated in countries across the globe. The Gaelic Athletic Association is a wonderful ambassador for Ireland and each of you who represented your country so well at the Calgary World Handball Championships should rightly feel proud of the contribution you have made not only to Ireland's sporting legacy but to Ireland's reputation abroad.
When I was growing up, the handball alley was a key landmark of most villages and the game was a key part of the social life of small towns and villages across the country.
I am delighted therefore to see the recent growth of interest in handball both at home and abroad. With over 200 clubs in Ireland consisting of 12,000 members, the resurgence of interest and awareness of the sport I am sure is a source of great pride and pleasure for all of you.
Today, with such excellent ambassadors as Paul Brady and Aisling Reilly for today's young handballers to look up to I am sure the growth and development of the game, in all its different variations, will only continue.
The fact the "one wall" game will be featured as an exhibition game in the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland in 2017 will also help to raise the game's profile internationally. I am aware that the various international bodies are also working towards bringing handball to the Olympic stage, and I wish you all every success with this endeavour in the future.
The road to success in sport is a challenging and difficult one, especially for amateur athletes. It is not a journey for the fainthearted and those who want the accolades have to put in the hard work. Sacrifices have to be made, especially where training commitments have to be balanced with the demands of career and family life. For successful amateur sportspeople like yourselves, you combine the dedication of professionals with full lives in other areas and your achievements, then, are all the more important.
May I take a moment to acknowledge your managers, your coaches and backroom teams, your physios, your doctors, your kit managers and also your husbands, wives and partners and your families and friends for the important roles they play in your success. Although the players ultimately receive all the accolades, each individual’s performance depends on the support of those closest to them, personally and as a team, to help them through their preparations, and we extend our appreciation to all of them for their contribution to your accomplishments.
In conclusion, agus mar fhocal scoir, is mian liom Foireann na hÉireann a mholadh as ucht an méid atá bainte amach agaibh, agus guím gach rath oraibh don todhchaí. I congratulate Team Ireland for everything you have achieved and I wish you well in your future endeavours.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir