REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE INAUGURATION RECEPTION, CONFERENCE CENTRE, DUBLIN CASTLE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE INAUGURATION RECEPTION, CONFERENCE CENTRE, DUBLIN CASTLE, 11TH NOVEMBER, 2004.
Dia dhíbh a chairde go léir anocht.
It’s good to be in the company of so many friends on one of the most significant and proud occasions of my life. I welcome you and thank you for sharing this evening with us. Some of you have travelled far to be here and whether the journey was long or short I hope this evening will last long in all our memories.
A good family and good friends are probably the greatest gifts anyone can have in this life and I have been blessed to have them both in abundance. They give a life the magical touch of love that is the difference between enjoying life and enduring life.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to my family and friends gathered in this room for the fun, the help, the care, the encouragement I have known throughout the years and know I can count on them to see me through the years ahead.
Seven years ago the journey to the Aras was a long and challenging one for me and for my family. It was hard to leave our beautiful Rostrevor behind. I thank Martin and our children Emma, Justin and Sara in particular for the way they embraced a new and very different life and for their wholehearted commitment to continuing it for another term. They know I love this job and they share the pride I have in the many wonderful achievements of our country, high among them the Peace process which offers great hope to our native Northern Ireland.
I am well and truly ready for the next seven years. No President has lived through better years in Ireland than I have been privileged to do. I hope in seven years time to be able to say Ireland surpassed her best and through the hands and brains of her people brought peace and prosperity to every heart, every home.
My thanks to our fantastic friends from Electric Ceili for entertaining us so well this evening in the best Irish tradition.
Go raibh maith agaibh arís a chairde.