REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT LUNCH HOSTED BY H.E. HENIZ FISCHER AND MRS FISCHER AT HOFBURG
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT LUNCH HOSTED BY H.E. HENIZ FISCHER AND MRS FISCHER AT HOFBURG, VIENNA TUESDAY, 18 JULY
Martin und ich freuen uns ausserordentlich, heute bei Ihnen in Wien sein zu können.
Federal President, Margit
Thank you for your kind words.
Martin and I are absolutely delighted to be with you in Vienna and we thank you for the warm welcome and for this wonderful lunch in such distinguished and fascinating company.
It is not our first visit to Vienna or Austria. We have been regular tourists here over many years and apart from the alpine huts and the elegant hotels I have also a certain familiarity with a number of excellent Austrian hospitals. In fact I can boast of being part Austrian having my ankle held together with two strong Austrian screws!
But today’s visit has its own particular character for it marks at the highest level the importance which we in Ireland attach to our relations with Austria and vice versa. We know that in Austria we are among the oldest and most faithful of friends and more than that, for our histories intertwine in remarkable ways. Right back in the first Millennium the scholarly Irish monks set out to bring the Christian message to the European mainland. Here in Austria the best known are Saint Fergil (or Virgil), who became Bishop of Salzburg in the eighth century, and Saint Colman (or Koloman), who became the patron saint of Lower Austria and is buried at Melk monastery not far from here. Their names live on in local religious and cultural traditions in Austria today and indeed in Ireland too. And the famous Schottenstift in Vienna was closely linked to Irish Benedictine monks who lived and taught there from the twelfth century onwards.
Later on, the flight of the so-called “Wild Geese” from an Ireland cruelly oppressed by her bigger neighbour, brought many Irishmen to Austria in search of freedom and asylum. They enlisted as officers in the Imperial Forces of Empress Maria Theresa where famous names like Count O’Donell and Count De Lacy served the Empress with great distinction, while in the nineteenth century Count Taaffe became a famous Minister President in Vienna. The descendants of these illustrious Irishmen remain prominent in Austrian life and retain a love of their Irish heritage- living links between two countries and two eras. Indeed, I understand that there are connections of this kind even among your Presidential staff – Ambassador Lutterotti’s wife is descended from an Irishman called Banfield who distinguished himself in the Imperial Navy during the nineteenth century.
It is fascinating to hear of such links and to know that as we build a shared future for our children in and through our membership of the European Union we build on solid and age old foundations. Today our friendship has become a partnership with huge potential, for we have much in common. We are two small feisty and independent nations, culturally strong, economically vibrant, facing similar challenges at home and abroad and bringing to them a clear perspective forged by our often cruel histories. We believe passionately in the UN, in the abomination of war, in the dignity and human rights of every single human being. These are important voices in a noisy and troubled world.
Austria’s recent highly successful Presidency of the Union is proof positive of the exceptional contribution small countries can make despite the burdens a Presidency imposes and the inevitable difficulties it faces. The Government of Austria rose superbly to the challenge and you can be extremely proud of what you achieved.
Federal President
Once again I offer warmest thanks to you and Margit for making us feel so much at home here and for creating this opportunity to reinforce the longstanding close relationship between our two states and our two peoples. Martin and I are extremely grateful for your invitation and for your hospitality.
May I ask our guests to raise their glasses to the health and prosperity of the Federal President and Mrs Fischer and of the people of Austria.
Darf ich nun die Gäste bitten, das Glas auf die Gesundheit und das Wohlbefinden des Bundespräsidenten und Frau Fischer und der Österreichischen Bevölkerung zu erheben.