Speech at the launch of Greenview Community Garden
Finglas South, Dublin, 21st April 2015
It is a great pleasure to be here today. I would like to thank Leon Kelly for her kind invitation and all of you for that generous welcome.
Mar Uachtarán na hÉireann tugtar cuireadh dom go minic cuairt a thabhairt ar ghairdíní speisialta a cuireadh ar bun don phobal i gcoitinne. Cuireann ócáidí spreagúla ar nós seo i gcuimhne dúinn gur féidir linn éachtaí móra a bhaint amach nuair a thagann an pobal le chéile chun a gcuid ama, a gcuid scileanna, a chuid fuinnimh agus a gcuid díograise a roinnt chun comhsprioc a bhaint amach, sprioc a bhfuil fiúntach agus a bhfuil marthanach agus a mbeidh fás agus forbairt ann sna blianta amach anseo.
[As President of Ireland I have been invited, on several occasions, to visit special gardens which have been created for the use of the general community. Such occasions are always inspiring reminders of what can be achieved when a community comes together, sharing their time, energy, skills and dedication to craft something that is truly good and lasting and that will continue to grow and mature for years to come.]
Ireland was, until very recently, a largely rural and agricultural country. The connection between Irish people and the land has always been a profound one. In a modern Ireland which has become rapidly urbanised in recent decades, that love of the land and instinctive yearning towards a nurturing way of life may find some of its fulfilment in the regular tending to gardens and above all in allotments which is an important and growing part of daily life for many of those living in busy towns and suburbs.
The hard work and vision that has been invested in the reclamation of this space, and its regeneration into a space that can become a focal point for the community, is impressive. Greenview Community Garden is now a place where residents can grow their own food and plants, reconnect with nature, and, in doing so, build community relations and social networks. I was particularly pleased to hear that groups such as Pavee Point, Extern and the Finglas Men’s Group are anxious and willing to play their role in utilising the garden fully, making it a true space of unity and inclusion.
Today we celebrate, not just the creation of a beautiful garden, but the construction of a public space; a space of inclusive, supportive and participative community that can be shared and enjoyed by all the residents of Finglas. Occasions such as this one remind us that public spaces do matter, that they provide a vital life force in communities and neighbourhoods, and invite and enable citizens to come together in a spirit of friendship and commonality.
It is critical, therefore, that we cherish, preserve, and indeed reclaim such spaces, recognising the essential role they play in developing inclusive societies where all citizens from all creeds and all communities can work and play together in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding.
The rewards of transforming a previously unused space into a great space of public participation go way beyond just the space, although the place in itself enriches the lives of its users and enhances its surrounding buildings and neighborhood. Great public places contribute to community health – socially, economically, culturally or environmentally. They add enhancement to the civic realm, to the lives of all – not only visually, but also in providing a sense of character and a forum for public activities. They can be anchors for downtowns and communities, acting as focal points for definition and foundations for healthy growth.
There can be no doubt that this place of communal sharing has enormous potential in terms of the enrichment of Finglas’ social fabric. Beyond Finglas, of course, the imaginative work carried out in a diverse range of communal spaces – in art venues, schools, community centres, libraries – has a great importance for our society as a whole, made up as it is of so many different strands and identities, all of them constantly shifting.
We are, as a nation, recovering from a time of great challenges; a time which reminded us of the importance of community, and its power to offer reassurance, mutual support and a sense of belonging that is so critical to the countering of, disappointment, destructive apathy or despair itself. Finglas has its own history of dealing with tough times and challenges, but its achievements continue to be a beacon of hope and a great encouragement to other communities striving to overcome hardship and adversity.
Today, we celebrate a version of Finglas that is symbolised by the lovely garden you have created here. We celebrate a version of Finglas as a community, one that is founded on an active, inclusive citizenship; a community prepared to turn the best of their ideas into living realities; and a people who understand the importance of a place that can be shared and enjoyed by all its residents.
It is no coincidence then that Ireland’s finest living poet, Paula Meehan, who has written so touchingly of the beauty of nature at the edges of the city, spent most of her childhood here in Finglas where the city meets the countryside.
This garden exemplifies how public funding, accompanied by local development work can bring important benefits for the community at a time of severe economic difficulty for many people. The initial funding provided by the Tolka Area Partnership was an important catalyst but today is the culmination of many hours of hard work by you, the community, who have been tireless in bringing the process to this stage.
You have created a significant community resource that will never be the same two seasons, or two years, in a row. The garden will mature in the coming years and give people great pleasure throughout the changing seasons. Always though, it will be a place to be proud of the work of a community that cares about its people and its environment.
It is, therefore, a great pleasure to formally declare open the Greenview Gardens. May I wish you many, many years of enjoyment of this public space and much fruitful collaboration and co-operation as you continue to develop and grow community relations in this beautiful place.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.