REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF CORCAGHAN COMMUNITY CENTRE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF CORCAGHAN COMMUNITY CENTRE CORCAGHAN, CO. MONAGHAN
Is cúis mhór áthais dom bheith anseo libh inniu. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as fáilte fíorGhaelach a chur sibh romham.
I am delighted to be here with you today to officially open this Community Centre on behalf of everyone in Corcaghan. I know that the whole community has worked incredibly hard to make this new centre a reality and I would like to say congratulations and well done to each one of you. A big thank you also to the boys and girls of St. Michael’s National School for that wonderful guard of honour and for helping me with the countdown to cutting the ribbon!This year has been designated by the United Nations as the Year of the Volunteer. And in Ireland, more than almost anywhere else, we know the importance and the value of voluntary work. We know how it sustained us in harsher times, how that spirit of neighbour helping neighbour helped many a family in need to keep its head above water. It was that spirit which enabled this community to build a centre here 30 years ago, when there was very little money about. But people recognised the importance of having a place for local groups to meet, a place for strengthening the links which underpin the social and cultural life of any community. And it is a mark of how that same community spirit has endured over the years, that just over a year ago, you opened the doors of this brand new centre whose official opening we celebrate today.
That achievement is all the more remarkable, when we think of how much this area, and areas like it all along the border, have suffered during so much of that period. The steady loss of young people, the evaporation of investment, the lack of jobs: these are problems which many rural Irish communities had to face during the 1980’s and early 90’s in particular. But for the border counties such as Monaghan, all of these problems were compounded by the existence of conflict on your doorstep and the disruption of traditional hinterlands and bonds between communities.
It is communities like Corcaghan that have invested most in the peace process, because you know that lasting peace is built from the ground up, by men, women and children in communities like this all around this island. It is built by people who care about their communities, about the sort of future their children will face. It is built by those who are willing to reach out across old boundaries and create new links and shared benefits for all. And so it is right that communities like this that have invested most in building peace, should also reap the social and economic benefits of that peace. This new community centre, built with the generous assistance of the Peace and Reconciliation Fund, is a very real sign of hope and renewal.
I would like to pay tribute to the many partners whose shared vision and common efforts helped bring this project to life. A special word of congratulations to Canon McQuaid, who helped set up the Development Association back in 1994 which sowed the seeds of today’s success. I would also like to commend all the members of the Association, especially Pat Beagan (Chairman) and Marion Murphy (Secretary) for all their hard work. As ever, FÁS were at the coalface of the hard work, and Monaghan County Council and the National Lottery also gave a helping hand. And of course, I’ve already mentioned the Peace and Reconciliation Fund, whose support and advice has been so important to your work. But the biggest applause is owed to the local community who fundraised tirelessly to squeeze every last penny from every wallet, purse and piggybank in the area. Many of you also contributed your skills and hard labour to building the centre, so congratulations to all of you.
This is a great achievement for what is a relatively small community. And I understand that already, your work has started to pay off, by encouraging the establishment of a Women’s Group, Youth Group and Active Age Group, as well as a revival of the music and drama groups that have always been so important in the area. I wish each of them, and all of you, the very best of luck in the future. Go gcúití Dia bhur saothar daoibh.