REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A THANK YOU RECEPTION AT ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A THANK YOU RECEPTION AT ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN ON Wednesday, 10TH DECEMBER, 2003
Dia dhíbh a chairde.
Hello everyone. You’re all very welcome this evening to this reception which is my way of saying a heartfelt thank you to the many, many people who make this place work – the many people who make it easy for me to do what I do, who go the extra mile so often to make the Áras look good, to make me look good, and no, I’m not talking about the hairdresser!
In the just over six years since I came into Office, this place Martin and I now call home has been utterly transformed - and all for the better. Some of that change has been in structural development works – the fountain at the front which would take your breath away at night it is so beautiful, the West Courtyard so tastefully done, the Garda Mounted Unit HQ, the new planting scheme gracing so many parts of the complex, and of course these rooms, this house, so often commented on by kings and queens, diplomats and dads and mams and little ones who’ve heard we have dungeons and are more interested in them than any Bossi fireplace. If only we had – I can think of a few people in public life north and south and a few in not so public life that could do with a stretch, but we won’t go there!
Those physical changes to the Áras are as visible as they are wonderful but there are many other things going on here that make this place better with little outward manifestation of what’s happening, because those changes have been designed and implemented with great care not to disrupt, or inconvenience – whether through the introduction of new security features, the new financial management system, - in helping us recruit staff – any chance we can send a few back – where’s that Secretary General of mine, - with purchasing, photography, painting, arranging foreign travel, providing security (I am particularly pleased that some of our friends from the PSNI could join us today), with catering, cleaning and the myriad of other things that go on here day in, year out, make it a welcoming place, a warm place, for all the men, women and children who come here from all over our country and who feel included and special as every human being should in a republic of equals and especially in this house - the very threshold and heart of that republic.
That warm welcome has also played an important part in changing mindsets, winning over the hearts and minds of people who even a few short years ago would never have considered, or countenanced others of their political persuasion, coming here. Word however has been carried back of the welcome, the generosity, the friendship extended here – the simplest of bridges have been built because that hand of friendship was extended - a simple bridge perhaps, a powerful and important one, definitely. For all that you do, the part you play in creating that warmth of welcome for everyone who comes here, we thank you.
Of course the changed political landscape on this island has created a deep desire for political correctness never before seen. One extreme case I heard of was, a woman who went into a post office to buy stamps for the Christmas cards and when asked which denominations she wanted was heard to say, “my God has it come to this”. “ I suppose you had better give me twenty Catholic and twenty Protestant!”
It’s now just two weeks to Christmas and I hope that you will be able to make the space in your busy lives to enjoy the magic of this time of year. Whatever else you do, enjoy time with your loved ones, and if I may give you one other piece of advice, if you really want to enjoy the time with those little loved ones for pity’s sake don’t forget the batteries! You have worked hard to earn this holiday break, so may it be a season that lives up to all the dreams we each have of it and may each of us do our very best to make it the best Christmas yet.
I would like to thank our entertainers the very talented Moy Singers, Grainne Brookfield Jazz Trio, Aiden Toomey – magician, and MC Paul Kennedy. I would also like to thank the staff here at the Áras who have worked hard to make this afternoon enjoyable for everyone.
To each of you and your families, I wish a very happy, safe and contented Christmas and New Year.
Nollaig shona agus athbhliain shuaimhneach daoibh go léir. Go raibh maith agaibh.