REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCASSION OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF ARKLOW/GREYSTONES
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCASSION OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF ARKLOW/GREYSTONES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HALL
Is breá liom bheith anseo i bhur measc as an ócáid speisialta seo, agus ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl díbh as an chuireadh agus as fáilte fíorchaoin.
I am delighted to be with you today for the official opening of the Arklow/Greystones Presbyterian Church Hall. I am very grateful to Rev. Jim Carson for the kind invitation, for the lovely thanksgiving service we’ve just shared and to each one of you for the very warm welcome given to both Martin and myself.
On a day when we mark the completion of a project begun seven long years ago it is well to remember the huge effort that saw it go from the germ of an idea to this beautiful hall. As we admire the beautiful Finnish construction with its showcasing of arctic pine better known to us as Scots pine we think with respect of the skill which built it, made it strong, safe and enduring. That respect is also due to those among you who knew that community too does not happen by accident, that like this hall it is built. A strong civic society needs good community builders, it needs people to willingly undertake the huge daily effort that is required to make communities resilient, affirming, safe and enduring. You are fortunate – good builders built this hall and good builders have built this community. So today is about more than the opening of a building, it is about a community celebrating the fact that it is more than just a random collection of human beings remote from each other, but it is a team, united in civic pride, determined to create a community resource on which to sustain the future success of this community and at last able to survey the marvellously uplifting results of communal effort.
I am told this hall can withstand earthquakes. I believe it but I hope it will never be tested! But this community has been tested and it has withstood the test of its commitment to the great gospel values of sharing, caring, of love, of neighbour helping neighbour and as always when love triumphs, the landscape is altered, that which seemed impossible happens.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Methodist Church in Lucan in County Dublin to celebrate their 125th Anniversary. Only a few short years ago the church had been in danger of closing but rather than accept the inevitable, the community rallied round and reshaped the future giving new life to the church and setting an agenda for an even happier community as people of all denominations joined the effort to ensure that the church survived. During these heady days of economic and cultural success when people worry about the possibility of increased selfishness and cynicism, this place answers those who wonder whether we take seriously the sacred trust handed from generation to generation to look out for one another and to reach out a helping hand. Here in this hall we see the work of the hands of human decency and goodness and we are reassured that the Ireland of tomorrow is in safe hands.
I have been told the hall came as something resembling a ‘kit’ and was put together a bit like we used to build our ‘Lego’ houses. Each unique piece has a place. Each piece depends on the correct placement of the rest. Built properly it is an object that draws our eye to it, makes us proud. We can say the same of the society we have the awesome responsibility of creating - a place where every unique individual is skilfully assisted to find his or her best place, a place where we support and encourage each other, a place where all feel needed and useful. So the symbolism of how a community is formed and developed, how each individual in it is reverenced, is all around. To those who made this place happen, a big thank you, and to those whose use of this place vindicates its existence - a thank you also. May it always be a place of welcome, a place to feel comfortable and at home in, a place where the commandment to love one another is lived and where it brings hope.
Is iontach an obair atá ar siúl agaibh agus guím gach rath air san am atá le teacht.
It gives me great pleasure now to declare this Community Hall officially open.
Thank you.