Nótaí Óráide an Uachtaráin, Máire Mhic Ghiolla Íosa ar Ócáid Sheoladh ‘Plé’ 26 Feabhra 2001
Nótaí Óráide an Uachtaráin, Máire Mhic Ghiolla Íosa ar Ócáid Sheoladh ‘Plé’ 26 Feabhra 2001
A chairde na Gaeilge,
Tá lúcháir orm bheith anseo libh tráthnóna san ionad álainn seo agus tá mé buíoch do lucht stiúrtha Plé as cuireadh a thabhairt domh teacht chun cainte libh agus chun láinseáil an tionscnaimh mhóir seo a cheiliúradh libh.
Sílim go bhfuil sé iontach fóirstineach gur in Áras an Cheoil Traidisiúnta atá muid cruinnithe leis an togra is úire labhairt na Gaeilge a sheoladh. Téann an dá ghné seo den chultúr, an teanga agus an ceol, lámh ar láimh, fite fuaite mar dhúshraith lenár n-aitheantas Gaelach. Céad slán leis na laethanta diamhra sin nuair nach gcluinfí an Ghaeilge ná an Ceol Gaelach i mórán áiteanna seachas hallaí paróiste. Céad slán leis an Cheann Faoi, leis an Bheaguchtach, leis an Lagmhisneach. Céad míle fáilte roimh an Urrús, roimh an Bhruth agus an Bhrí inár bhfeiniúlacht Ghaelach.
When I attend a match in Croke Park the band plays The Presidential Salute. We all know it as a shortened form of the National Anthem. But I wonder how many people know what piece of music is played for the Taoiseach. Anyone like to phone a friend? It’s called ‘Amhrán Dóchais’ – A Song of Hope and it was written by Osborn Ó hAimheirgin:
Canam laoithe dóchais I dteanga bhinn na Fódhla Is seasaimis go beomhar Os comhair an tsaoil.
Let us sing songs of hope
In this language that we love
Standing proud and unafraid
In the eyes of all the world.
Ó hAimeirgin’s fervent wish is coming true in the Ireland of today. Our language and music, and indeed all aspects of our culture, are now widely recognised for the magnificent national assets that they are. Gone are the days when it was said as a cynical boast: “I only have the ‘cúpla focal’ – and that’s both of them”. More and more, our young people regard it as ‘cool’ to able to speak the Gaeilge. Increasingly, those who are not so young regret lost opportunities and set out to reacquaint themselves with the language. It takes a bit of work – mar atá a fhios agam féin go maith – as I know very well.
And then we have those whose commitment to the language is such that they form an organisation like Plé. For years and generations past, groups have been formed to promote the language by the tried and well-tested method of fighting its corner. In times past, there was often no other way and the fighting was generally a rear-guard action, beating off the encroaching influences which it was feared could or would overwhelm. It is a sure and certain sign of our ‘teacht in inmhe chultúrtha’, our cultural maturation as a people, that a group now chooses to promote our language by a unique blend of social, business and cultural interactions, by fund-raising for a designated charity partner; no fighting allowed; the only stipulation is that participants must have fun!
The word ‘Plé’ means to discuss, to engage, to be involved. The concept is a very healthy one, a mutually enriching one. This novel idea of combining a forum for the speaking of Irish with the opportunity to look around and see who needs help, says a lot about our cultural self-image. It says: ‘Is pobal muiníneach muid!’ – ‘We are a confident people!’ It sends out a message that we are ‘istigh linn féin’, happy with how we see ourselves, and with how the world sees us. It says loudly and clearly that the days of ‘inbhreathnú cultúrtha’, the days of cultural introspection are over, that we delight in holding our own in a world of intriguing and mutually enriching diversity.
In common with most Irish people, there is a special place in my heart for the Irish Hospice Foundation. I can think of no more deserving cause, no more fitting partner for Plé in their inaugural year, than this movement which has done so much to ease the suffering and loneliness of so many people. Their work is that of unselfish giving, of pure love. I wish them every success in their partnership with muintir Plé.
Tréaslaím libh, a mhuintir Plé. To those of you who are founding members of Plé I way ‘Well done! Gura fada buan sibh!’ To those of you who are not yet members I say ‘This is the perfect year to get involved – the United Nations International Year of the Volunteer.’
Bliain Idirnáisiúnta an tSaorálaí, bliain ar leith ina dtugann muid aitheantas ar leith dóibh sin a oibríonn go deonach ar leas daoine eile. Is tráthúil, mar sin, gur i mbliana atá an grúpa seo Plé ag teacht le chéile, é de chuspóir acu daoine a tharraingt le chéile as gach earnáil agus as gach réimse de shaol na hÉireann, ar mhaithe leis an Ghaeilge agus ar mhaithe leo sin nach bhfuil chomh hámharach leo féin. Is mór agus is fiúntach an mhian í, mian atá ard-aidhmeannach agus scóipiúil. Tá rud nó dhó le rá ag mo sheanchara, Cathal Ó Searcaigh, faoi na mianta. Agus muid ag cuimhniú ar mhuintir speisialta na hOispíse mar chomh-bhádóirí ag muintir Plé i mbliana, tá ciall shainiúil le focla áille an fhile :
Mian
Is é mian ár gcroí go dtarlóidh
míorúiltí agus iontaisí;
go bhfosclóidh doirse diamhra
ar dhúnta rúnda sí;
go mbainfear an brat den oíche
a thig anuas ar an chroí;
go bhfeicfidh muid dath na gaoithe
agus muid ag dul in ísle brí;
go dtógfaidh muid ár seolta go buan
ar aigéan mór na scáil;
go seolfar muid isteach i gcuanta
nach bhfuil fós ar léarscáil.
Guím mian bhur gcroí oraibh agus rath agus raidhse ar bhur saothar.
Go raibh maith agaibh.