REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE FERNS CASTLE VISITOR CENTRE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE FERNS CASTLE VISITOR CENTRE AND TAPESTRY EXHIBITION
A dhaoine uaisle,
Tá an-áthas orm bheith i bhur láthair inniu ar an ócáid speisalta seo. Tá mé buíoch díbh as an gcuireadh agus an bhfáilte fhíorchaoin a chur sibh romham i bhFearna inniu.
I am delighted to be part of this unique day of celebration and day of righteous pride in Ferns. I wish to thank Betty Byrne, the Chairperson of the Ferns Tapestry Project for inviting me to open the Exhibition of the Tapestry and also Sean Benton, Chairman of the Office of Public Works, for inviting me to open the Ferns Castle Visitor Centre itself. Both open a window on Fern’s rich history and say something very powerful about the talent and vision of the people of 21st century Ferns.
1,400 very eventful years have passed since the arrival of Christianity in the Ferns area with the founding of St. Aedan’s monastery. It was for a long time a haven of scholarship and saintliness, of peace and prosperity but those nosey Vikings just couldn’t stay home and with them came generations of violence and war that sorely tested the faith of the people. Their destruction of the city of Ferns started in the 9th century and for good measure they returned in the 12th to finish off the job - but by now they had of course metamorphosed into the Normans. Their arrival radically changed the course of Ireland’s history and of course fundamentally undermined our ability to cope with the new conquests and conquerors that were to follow.
The Tapestry tells that story, the story of our ancestors and of the forces that shaped us centuries later. It tells the story in that beautiful, highly skilled art form long associated with the genius of women and indeed with the middle ages, the craft of tapestry. To the legendary Unicorn and Bayeaux tapestries we can now add the name of Ferns! And to the Boys of Wexford we can add The Women of Wexford too ably led by Betty Byrne and her team of twenty-six embroiderers! I compliment too the graphic artwork of Stephanie Breen and the colour artist Kristine Byrne. These talented women who took the time to learn this noble ancient art form have done a magnificent job and created a delightful gift to the future inhabitant of Ferns and all who come here as visitors. I hope those who come to see and enjoy it will do so in times that are much more reminiscent of those early days of St. Aedan, times of serenity and peace, good neighbourliness and equality, prosperity and partnership.
The new life which this Visitor Centre brings to the Castle is a perfect environment for the Ferns tapestry and those who undertook the restoration work are to be warmly congratulated on the fine building they have recreated. Their fidelity to the geometry of the castle and to the natural materials which were used in the original construction have been brilliantly complemented by contemporary imagination and flair. And thanks to all those who conceived the idea and saw it through to completion, Ferns has a fine new resource through which to shine the light of curiosity on its people and its past.
The tapestry and the opening of the centre come at an intriguing time when the name of the diocese of Ferns has been associated with sad events that would surely have broken St. Aedan’s heart. Thankfully there is growing determination to face up to and deal openly with what was so hurtful and to find hope and pride in all that was and remains good, decent and noble. Already life is spinning the threads from which a future to be proud of will be woven here in what was once the capital city of Leinster and you are the weavers. You should take righteous pleasure and satisfaction in this place and in these exquisite tapestries. It is to the immense credit of the Wexford Organisation for Rural Development, and of the Office of Public Works, that they saw the potential in both projects and supported their completion to such very high standards. Together they refresh the great story of historic Ferns and open it up to a new generation. May the Centre and tapestry long bring pride and joy and many visitors to Ferns.
It gives me great pleasure in declaring the Ferns Castle Visitor Centre and Ferns Tapestry Exhibition officially open.
Comhghairdeachas libh go léir. Go raibh maith agaibh.