ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF A RECEPTION BY CLONAKILTY URBAN DISTRICT
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF A RECEPTION BY CLONAKILTY URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL
I’m really delighted to be here in Clonakilty on my first visit in an official capacity, and I’m deeply honoured by the very warm welcome and kindness I have encountered since my arrival. I am particularly grateful for the very warm words of welcome from you, Chairman, which has been echoed by the other members of the Urban District Council this morning. Like many travelers to the South, I have been in Clonakilty before – it is one of those places that you have to visit if you’re in or about West Cork at all - and I’m happy that on this occasion, I have been invited to be with you during a full programme which brought me to Ringaskiddy and Cork yesterday – and on to Clonakilty and Oileán Chléire today.
Clonakilty is a Heritage Town - and any visitor is immediately struck by the carefully preserved character of its public and private buildings, the period shop-fronts, the graceful streets and squares and open spaces. It is a town which has retained its individuality – a town that has acknowledged that its past is important to its future. The credit for such appreciation of heritage belongs ultimately to the community - whose attitudes and objectives are in turn mirrored and implemented by you in the Urban District Council. That partnership between the local community and the Council has clearly succeeded.
Clonakilty is also very well known because of its association with Michael Collins – the great figure in modern Irish history – who made such a profound contribution to the emerging Irish nation in the early part of this century. The memory of Michael Collins who was born and grew up at Woodfield, just outside Clonakilty, is kept very much alive today. In recent years a local committee - led by a Clonakilty solicitor, Liam Collins - himself a grand-nephew of Michael Collins - acquired the Collins homestead - and carried out sensitive restoration work before presenting it to the State as a memorial to Michael Collins. It is now a National Monument in State care attracting many visitors each year. Indeed, as politicians both North and South work at this time - to bring the conflict in Northern Ireland to a conclusion – we are reminded of the great role played by Michael in the early years of this century – of his brave efforts to reach a conclusion to the conflict that caused so much division and suffering.
In the turbulent history of Munster and Ireland over the last few centuries – Clonakilty has seen many armies come and go. Thankfully, the only ‘army’ that invades Clonakilty today is the great number of tourists who come to “The Little Town Beside the Sea” - as Eugene Davis called it when in exile in 1873:-
“ ‘Tis the twilight hour, and I long to dream
On the days long past, and the scenes of yore;
For memory’s beacons on me beam,
Lighting my path to the past’s dim shore.
O, past unfold thy ponderous theme;
In thy pages let me once more see
The friends of yore in my Irish home;
In that little town beside the sea”
For many people, Clonakilty is a place to come and holiday – a place to explore and take a glimpse at previous eras. For the people of Clonakilty it is their home - their town. When I leave here this morning I will get an opportunity to make my contribution to the development of Clonakilty – and to add to the appeal of this “little town beside the sea” - when I go to turn the first sod of the new Amenity Park – on a site provided by the UDC.
The people of Clonakilty are fortunate indeed to be served by a dedicated Urban District Council – and to have such committed public representatives. I commend you on your work for the people and town of Clonakilty – and I would like to thank you again for giving me such a warm reception today.