RECEPTION HOSTED BY MAYOR AND MRS. MENINO, PARKMAN HOUSE, 33 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
RECEPTION HOSTED BY MAYOR AND MRS. MENINO, PARKMAN HOUSE, 33 BEACON STREET, BOSTON FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER, 1998
On behalf of Martin and myself, as well as the Irish Delegation, I want to thank you and Mrs.(Angela) Menino for your gracious and warm welcome to Parkman House this morning.
A few moments ago, we visited the Famine Memorial on your Freedom Trail, a Memorial which offers a powerful and moving reminder of the history of the Irish in this great city.
I would like to renew here my thanks to you personally for all that you did, Mr. Mayor, to bring this about. This initiative, and the subsequent efforts of Tom Flatley and the Memorial Committee are deeply appreciated.
Coming to this reception this morning, we are celebrating especially the life of the Irish community in Boston, its future and its past. You, Mayor Menino, have been a great friend to Ireland during your distinguished term of office over the past five years.
In that regard, can I reiterate what I said at the Famine Memorial this morning – and say how delighted all of us are to hear that the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to John Hume and David Trimble for their outstanding work for peace. It is a truly a well-deserved recognition of their courage and commitment in breaking through the barriers of sectarian and entrenched thinking – and in working with the other political leaders to bring about a long-awaited and lasting peace – a peace based on tolerance and mutual respect for the traditions in Northern Ireland.
Of course, throughout the difficult and arduous process, the understanding, encouragement and support from United States has been a major influence on its progress and outcome. We are and will be eternally grateful to President Clinton and the other influential people in America, like you Mayor Menino, for the assistance which you have given.
You have, I know, a proud Italian heritage, but also a warm and personal friendship with Ireland, through your Office, and particularly through your extended family in Galway.
Your own interest in the political and economic welfare of Ireland was reflected again through your visit earlier this year to Ireland, North and South.
We look forward to continuing and reinforcing that relationship with you over the coming years, as we move towards the new Millennium.
We share the challenges which you are actively addressing in Boston: the needs within education, the fight against drugs, the care of our children, the reduction of crime.
I have learned with interest of your initiatives in this area and I congratulate you on them.
Above all, Mr. Mayor, we celebrate the life of the Irish community in Boston, we reflect on our shared heritage and we look forward to a bright future, built on partnership and filled with hope.
ENDS