Remarks at the Opening of the Dylan Thomas Exhibition
Swansea, Wales, 27th October 2014
First Minister,
Lord Mayor,
Annwyl Gyfeillion,
A Chairde Uilig,
On behalf of the people of Ireland, Wales’s sister to the West – so long together, we no longer need to argue who is older and who is younger – I thank you most sincerely for the warm welcome you extended to my wife Sabina and me, and to the entire Irish delegation.
Is mór an phléisiúir dom é a bheith anseo, ar mo chéad chuairt ar an Bhreatain Bheag mar Uachtarán na hÉireann.
[It is a great pleasure for me to be here, on what is my first visit to Wales as President of Ireland.]
And it is as a special honour to be invited to open this historic exhibition, at the Dylan Thomas Centre, here in Swansea.
There are few who have let the words of Dylan Thomas stir their soul who have not sought to come closer to the life and the circumstances of the poet who gave us the beauty of “Fern Hill” and the moving world of Under Milk Wood.
Now they will be enabled, through this exhibition, to come closer.
As we walk through the display cases; as we look at the artifacts, poems and letters; as we hear and read his words – let us honour Dylan Thomas with the treasure of our full attention.
The poetry of Dylan Thomas is of words let collide with each other in public presentation, in a way that made a music of its own; and often one line would be sufficient to lodge its echo forever and in the memory of so many.
Here in Swansea – which Dylan Thomas praised in his letters as “marble-town, city of laughter, little Dublin”[1] – how wonderful that this poet, and this occasion, brings us together.
On behalf of our cities of laughter; our countries of partnership; our peoples with their potential for love and generosity, I hereby and happily open this exhibition.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
[1] Dylan Thomas, The Collected Letters, ed. Paul Ferris, Dent 1985, p. 435.