Remarks at a Senior Citizens Reception Wednesday, 22nd September 2010
Remarks at a Senior Citizens Reception Wednesday, 22nd September 2010
Dia dhíbh go léir a chairde, is cúis mhór áthais duinn fáilte a chur romhaibh go léir chuig Áras an Uachtaráin inniu. It’s wonderful to have you here and Martin joins me in extending a heartfelt ‘céad mile fáilte’ to each of you this afternoon. Some of you have come a long way to be with us - Donegal, Tyrone, Galway, Tipperary (have ye finished celebrating those great wins yet?), some have travelled slightly shorter distances from Westmeath and Kildare and of course we also welcome our Dublin neighbours from Ballyfermot and Castleknock. You are all very, very welcome and we hope that you will feel the journey was worthwhile.
I never tire of days like this when we have groups of Senior Citizens to the Áras because I get to say thank you. Thank you for all that you have done to make life so much easier for my generation and for that of my children. Yours was the generation that defined resilience in tough times. You suffered through unemployment, emigration, hardship, and through your efforts, Ireland became a better place, a more inclusive and tolerant place for native and visitor alike. Through those dark days, you struggled to make life better for your children and worked hard and saved hard for anything you got. You didn’t always have the time saving gadgets, the dish washers, washing machines, central heating or any of the other life enhancing items that we take for granted.
In your day, second level education would have been a luxury and as for third level, well, that, in most cases was not an option for many but nonetheless you are fountains of knowledge about so many things that are so important as we face the challenges of these times: resourcefullness, commitment, courage, self reliance and hard work. You were the backbone on which the confident, educated, Ireland of 2010 was built and we know that if we can muster half as much determination, commitment, resilience as you have done and if we are prepared to make the hard decisions, we can come through these testing times albeit perhaps chastened and wiser but yet optimistic.
Many of you are here as members of local associations and are active citizens in your communities. By being part of a group, you support and encourage each other, share a laugh as well as your talents with those who are lucky to know you. You know and appreciate the meaning of good neighbourliness and what it means to look out for one another. That is something that we can all learn from, particularly when we think we are too busy to be curious about the person next door and miss the chance to make the new friend. So, although you may be here with a group, I hope you take the opportunity today to get to know someone outside of that group and you never know, you might just happen on a long lost relation or make a new friend. Once again, thank you for all you have done and continue to do. Enjoy the house, the hospitality but most of all have fun and bring home happy memories.
On your behalf, I would like to extend a special word of thanks to our soprano Gabriela Istoc who will delight us with her magnificent voice and who is accompanied today on piano by the wonderful Elisaveta Blumina. I’d also like to thank the Civil Defence for looking out for us and the Áras team who are working so hard to make this day enjoyable and memorable for you. Thank you all for being here and for all you do to keep each other full of joy in life. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.