REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE RETURN RECEPTION OF THE STATE VISIT TO FINLAND FINLANDIA HALL
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE RETURN RECEPTION OF THE STATE VISIT TO FINLAND FINLANDIA HALL WEDNESDAY, 23RD MAY, 2001
Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to welcome you all here this evening to Finlandia Hall, and to have this opportunity to savour with you one of the legendary Alvar Aalto’s outstanding architectural masterpieces. Many stories have unfolded in this historic place and I am conscious that it was the centre for the negotiation of the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, one of the seminal events in post-war Europe. This evening we are not engaged in events of quite that magnitude but the kind of friendship building between two peoples which this evening symbolises, is in itself a noble and reassuring endeavour. I have been the recipient of the most heart-warming Finnish hospitality these past two days, Madam President, and I hope that this evening will go some way to showing the deep appreciation of the Irish delegation. I would like to say a particular thank you, Madam President, to all your staff for the excellent arrangements made before and during this visit. I know only too well how much effort goes into making everything seem effortless, and we deeply appreciate all that hard work.
The Irish are not known for their shyness in organising a party. And this is a thank-you party not just for these very happy days but for all the work which goes on daily to strengthen the bonds between Ireland and Finland.
That work happens at many levels, both formal and informal. The name of Ireland is carried across the world by Irish people, and though the Irish community here is relatively small, they more than make up for lack of numbers through the great many friends they have made for Ireland here. They are our primary ambassadors, the people who generate interest in and affection for Ireland through their everyday lives.
Many of the individuals who are committed to that special bond of affection are here with us this evening: the Finnish-Irish Friendship Group of the Finnish Parliament, some of whom I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday; members of the Irish Business Club, who I had the opportunity of addressing earlier today, and which provides such an important network of business links between our two countries. I understand we also have a number of representatives from various cultural groups with us here this evening – the Finnish-Irish Society which brings some of the best of Irish culture before the Finnish public through its long-running and very successful annual Irish Festival; the Emerald Club which does so much to bring the Irish in Finland together by arranging activities and social events which generate a real sense of community here, and last but far from least, the Finnish Celtological Society.
All of these various groups play a vital role in building up links at a human level between us. They are the ones who, through their voluntary activity, lay the groundwork for closer economic, social and cultural ties. I am delighted to have this opportunity this evening to thank you for your work. It is work that no law compels you to do except the laws that govern human goodness. These things build us up humanly, they stitch together the fabric of civilised civic society. In the scale of things they may not merit a paragraph in a history book, but they have the capacity to change the course of that history for the better.
Tonight we share each other’s company and we take away fond memories. A special set of memories must surely gather around the musicians who have just performed for us. The violinist, Catherine Leonard, and the pianist, Hugh Tinney, are among the very best musical talents performing in Ireland today. We are deeply proud of the skill with which they demonstrate the best of Irish culture to Ireland’s friends abroad, old and new. On your behalf and on my own I thank them for contributing so beautifully to this memorable evening.
Sadly, my visit to Finland comes to an end tomorrow. We are to use the words of the first Rune of the Kalevala –
“…..from two widely sundered regions
Rarely can we meet together
Rarely one can meet the other…” This has been a rare and a wonderful experience, a happy experience and I am leaving with an appetite whetted and a kaleidoscope of memories of which I will treasure. May the people of this very special place prosper and may Ireland and Finland continue to speak to each other from the far edges of Europe, continue to be joyfully curious about each other and continue to work together for the kind of future at home and abroad which will make our children proud.
I hope you all enjoy the rest of the evening.