REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A SENIOR CITIZENS RECEPTION, ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A SENIOR CITIZENS RECEPTION, ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN WEDNESDAY, 11TH MAY, 2011
Dia dhíbh a chairde go léir. An bhfuil sibh go maith? I’m delighted to extend a very warm céad míle fáite to you to Áras an Uachtaráin today. This historic house has seen so much of Irish history and has seen many different faces of a changing Ireland. Today we are celebrating the Ireland of your generation.
I know many of your groups arrange outings and day trips in the summer and so I’m delighted that this year, right at the start of summer 2011, your itinerary includes the Áras. As you’ve probably already realised from chatting amongst yourselves, we’ve people here from all over Ireland – the Enniscrone Active Age committee from County Sligo, the Kiltogher Active Age group in neighbouring County Leitrim, the Fermoy Senior Citizens who came all the way from County Cork, the Roscrea Active Retirement Association in County Tipperary and some guests from Crossdoney in County Cavan. My thanks to each of you for making the long trip to Dublin today. We also have a few whose journey was a little bit shorter – the Willington Active Retirement Group from Templeogue and guests from Blackrock in County Dublin and my very close neighbours in the Nifty Fifty’s group who are based just outside the Phoenix Park on the Navan Road in Dublin 7. I’d also like to welcome another special guest from that part of Dublin, Mrs Anne Doran, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday later this summer; a big congratulations to her. To each of you, regardless of whether you had to set the alarm clock bright and early this morning, or your trip took just a few minutes, you’re all very welcome.
They say that those who drink the water should remember those who dug the well. Today is my chance to thank each of you and the generation you represent for the hard work and effort you invested in building a strong, sustainable, prosperous society. You had many challenges – access to education was not as easy as it is today, high unemployment and the pain of emigration were the norm for many families but you were equipped with a strength, a resilience and a belief in a brighter future. These same qualities are a valuable resource today as we seek to set Ireland back on a path of sustainable prosperity, and an inspiration to younger generations. We also have a hard-earned wisdom and experience and it is my hope that a stronger, more equitable society will emerge from the current difficulties.
We are already seeing huge change in our communities and our society, in particular in our attitudes to older people. There was a time when older people were expected to become invisible, no longer participate or contribute to their societies and communities. Thankfully today, thanks in no small part to the wonderful work of active retirement associations and societies like those represented here, we see our older citizens taking a full and active part in all aspects of our life. Today’s senior citizen is just as likely to be found walking vigorous laps of the park as sitting on the park bench enjoying the world going past!
Or perhaps doing vigorous laps of the park and then taking to the park bench to skype or email from a laptop! I know that many of your associations are busy with all sorts of activities from indoor bowls to art classes, local history to day trips and I hope that today’s visit to the Áras will go down as one of the many successful days in the history of your groups!
I’m delighted also to thank our very talented entertainers here today – our tenor Seán Óg Boylan from Dunboyne in county Meath, accompanied on the piano by Máire Carroll. They are fresh from great success at the recent Feis Ceoil and so I’m delighted they are here to give us such a beautiful musical backdrop to a wonderful afternoon. My thanks also to our first aiders John Gold and Josephine McGlinchey from the Civil Defence and to all the Áras team who have been working hard to make your visit an enjoyable and memorable one.
Please enjoy today, enjoy this historic house, enjoy the company of those you came with and enjoy meeting new friends. May you all have a safe journey home, packed with happy memories and a story or two to tell.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.