REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE AT THE ESB/NATIONAL CONCERT HALL OPEN DAY ON SUNDAY 21 JUNE 1998
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE AT THE ESB/NATIONAL CONCERT HALL OPEN DAY ON SUNDAY 21 JUNE 1998
Today is a day of celebration of music – and I am delighted to be here at the National Concert Hall to be part of that celebration – and to open the doors on this wonderful day – the ESB/National Concert Hall Open Day. I want to congratulate the ESB and the Concert Hall for their vision – and hearing! – in bringing us this day of celebration – in organising to have the doors open to everybody – and to do so free of charge.
Much has been said about music – from Shakespeare, who said it was the “food of love” – George Herbert, the poet, who said that “music helps not the toothache!” – William Congreve, who said that “Music has charms to soothe a savage breast” – or Dr. Johnson who used to say that “it was the only sensual pleasure without vice”. Pleasure without vice is very apt for a Sunday – and I can only pray that there are no ‘savage breasts’ to be soothed – not to mention toothaches! But there should be plenty of food for the lovers of music in this carnival of music and entertainment.
I want to pay a warm tribute to each and every one of the 1,000 or so musicians who will feed the hungry today – I want to thank them for their generosity in performing free of charge – in distributing the musical ‘loaves and fishes’ to the multitudes who will come to listen and partake of the minstrel morsels. I am particularly glad to welcome musicians from my own part of the country – the Andersonstown Traditional Music Group, and the St. Louis Abbey Crossborder Orchestra. I want also to congratulate the Tallaght Festival Band who led the Open Day Parade – and to welcome the Ardee Concert Band who have joined us for this open day.
The image of the day – the “Open Eye” – on either side of the doors – encapsulates what this day is all about. It is about being open to the many different kinds of music that you can experience – open to people and performers from different parts of the country – and open to the music that is performed in this building – the magnificent National Concert Hall – and a palace of plenty in terms of fine music and entertainment. It is to the great credit of the National Concert Hall that they started these ‘open days’ to bring more people in to see the building – and to experience the kind of events that take place here – through a day of festivity and fun. It is very heartening to see so many responding positively to their invitation – and I have absolutely no doubt whatever that your visit will be thoroughly enjoyable – and handsomely rewarded. One of the joys of living in the Áras is being able to come here regularly with the family –Dublin is blessed to have such a wonderful venue and such a feast of music
I understand that the RTE Concert Orchestra is anxiously awaiting the arrival of an audience, so that they can kick off proceedings with a “Family Fun Concert”. I am sure that you are equally anxious to take your seats - and to prepare yourselves for the treats and treasures that are in store. So it gives me great pleasure to cut the ribbon, and to declare the Open Day officially “open”.