REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE AT A RECEPTION IN BOSTON COLLEGE ON FRIDAY, 16 OCTOBER, 1998
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE AT A RECEPTION IN BOSTON COLLEGE ON FRIDAY, 16 OCTOBER, 1998
Go raibh míle maith agaibh as ucht bhur bhfáilte caoin. Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo agus bualadh leis an méid sin daoine sa coláiste cáiliúil seo.
President Leahy, Chancellor Monan, Governor Cellucci and friends, on behalf of Martin and myself and the Irish delegation, I want to say how very pleased we are to join you here at Boston College in the lovely surroundings of the Irish Room at Gasson Hall.
We have just come from Connolly House, new home to the Irish Institute and the Department of Irish Studies. The strong and well nurtured links between Ireland and Boston College are well recorded: they stem literally from the time of the College’s foundation by Father John McElroy, born near Enniskillen in County Fermanagh.
This dynamic and productive relationship is stronger than ever. A recent article in the recent newsletter of the Irish Studies Department says it all: “the thrill of penny whistles and the tap of step dancers’ heels echoed throughout the campus (last June) as BC hosted “Gaelic Roots” the annual summer school and festival of Celtic music. I am glad to know, that although it is already October, we are not too late to enjoy the legendary talents of Seamus Connolly here this evening! And with Phil Coulter as Visiting Professor of Music, how could you go wrong?
It is fortuitous that we could visit you at this time, in October 1998, when we can celebrate the remarkable scope of Irish activities on campus and a number of significant anniversaries: the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Irish Collection, the Twentieth of Irish Studies, home to work of such quality and excellence; the recent establishment of the Irish Institute which has been engaged for several years in such effective and far-reaching programmes at political and business levels.
Not only do we celebrate these important achievements, we acknowledge the wide range of contacts between so many departments at Boston College and Ireland.
The heartbeat of Boston College is Irish indeed! To President Leahy, Vice President Campanella and all associated with this extraordinary effort, I offer my warmest congratulations and appreciation.
When former Taoiseach Sean Lemass visited Boston College exactly 35 years ago, in October 1963, he observed that: “ the most cursory glance over this lovely campus clearly indicates that Boston College is not content to rest on its laurels, real and extensive though they be........everywhere there are signs of new developments......of responses to the challenges and problems attendant on the provision of higher education to vastly increasing numbers of young people today”. Since Mr. Lemass spoke, the College has realised all the potential which he identified then. As you, the educators in the College, strive to guide and educate the young students here, you help them to face many of the challenges which concern us all today.
In Ireland today, we face the same challenges and concerns. We know that you shared our joy when the historic Agreement was made in Northern Ireland last Good Friday. You take pride too in our economic success and you foster strong business links between Ireland and Massachusetts. Many of you here, whether through your work with Irish organisations, or individually, have contributed enormously to both. I want to offer our profound appreciation for that and our continued reliance on your support as we enter a new phase in Ireland, but one filled with hope.
ENDS