REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A FAMILY GARDEN PARTY ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN TUESDAY, 4th July, 2006
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A FAMILY GARDEN PARTY ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN TUESDAY, 4th July, 2006
Dia dhíbh go léir, agus céad míle fáilte romhaibh.
Good afternoon, everybody.
Both Martin and I welcome each one of you to this beautiful house Áras an Uachtaráin which simply means the home of the President. It has been our home for the last nine summers, and I hope that, like us, you will find it a welcoming and a friendly place where the traditional fáilte is warm and sincere. For me, for all its elegant decorations, art and furniture, the house comes truly alive when it is full of people as it is today.
This day is for relaxing, for being sociable, for seeing old friends, for meeting new faces, making some new friends and generally unwinding for a few hours in these pleasant surroundings. The gardens are looking great thanks to the Áras gardening team. The house team have been working round the clock to have the house looking its best and to make sure you enjoy some lovely food, so make yourselves at home. Enjoy the tours of the house, wander through the gardens, sample the food, sing along to the entertainment and generally have the craic while the world of work and routine passes us by for a little while.
I thank you all for coming to share this day and for entering the spirit of bridge building by greeting strangers and getting to know a new friend or two before the day is over. On your behalf can I thank the huge Áras team and all the people who are working hard to make this day really shine – our marvellous entertainers: the harmonious Acabella with Gavin Murphy on the piano, Dáire Halpin who sings so beautifully, the Dermot Dunne and Ariel Hernandez duo, the St Peter’s Male Voice Choir, Drogheda and the wonderful traditional group from Comhaltas. A big thanks to our friends in the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, the Civil Defence, the Gardaí, the Defence forces and the Tour Guides. They are here to make your day as fun and as happy as possible.
Martin and I hope you have a great afternoon, and return home safely, bringing with you many fond memories of your visit to Áras an Uachtaráin.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.