REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE ‘PARTY’ FOR GAISCE P.A.L’s
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE ‘PARTY’ FOR GAISCE P.A.L’s. AT ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
Firstly let me say that you are all very welcome to Áras an Uachtaráin this afternoon for a ‘PAL’s Party’. I know that today we only have a selection of the President’s Awards Leaders with us – but I look forward in time to meeting all the Leaders. You’ll be happy to know that this is the first day this week that we’ve been able to have an outdoor event. It is a fun day – a picnic day – and a day where you can come together – hopefully have a chance to meet others from different parts of Ireland – but most of all to relax and enjoy yourselves – take a look around the Áras - and enjoy some of our hospitality.
It is also a day for entertainment – and we are delighted today to have music provided by the Army No. 1 Band – who gave you a rousing welcome as you arrived – and who co-incidentally are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year – members of the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra who set the atmosphere here on this side of the house – Carly, the youngest of the entertainers – who very kindly agreed to be with us today – and of course, Daniel O’Donnell who we are delighted to have with us this afternoon – and to whom we are particularly grateful. So before we go any further, I’d like you to give all the musicians and singers a warm round of applause.
This morning I was had an opportunity to drop in to the Blessington Adventure Centre – where 24 young Gaisce and Duke of Edinburgh participants – from both sides of the border - were undergoing a four-day survival/adventure training event – having been selected from hundreds of applicants who are working towards their Awards. I was a wonderful opportunity for me to get an appreciation of just what is involved for all those young people who rise to the challenge of going for the respective awards. They, of course, are the fruits of your labour – of your encouragement and mentoring – and of your dedication. I know that when they get their awards, the focus is quite rightly on them – and on their achievements. But today is your day – and a day when I get an opportunity to recognise what your are doing - and what you have been doing for so many young people.
Quite often, through family circumstance, low self-esteem, lack of encouragement, shyness or lack of confidence – many young people never reach their potential – and never quite rise to the many challenges and opportunities that life can throw their way.
Through your work as Leaders, you are facilitating them in taking that initial step – which for many can be a daunting and frightening leap. I want to commend you for what you have been doing – and especially those of you who have been involved since the Gaisce was started – over ten years ago. I know that quite an amount of Gaisce Leadership is provided through the schools – and that many of you here this afternoon are teachers. I would like to pay a particular tribute to the schools and the teaching profession through the Minister For Education , Micheál Martin – who I am happy to say has joined us this afternoon for this celebration.
I am looking forward to meeting each of you in a few moments when you adjourn to the marquee for some refreshments. Thankfully, today looks much brighter than it has been – so we have set up tables on the lawn at which you can sit and enjoy the atmosphere of the Áras and its grounds. You are also very welcome to go into the house to see the formal rooms – which for me symbolise the history of this island – and its relationships with our neighbour, Britain. It tells its own fascinating story – a story that spans several centuries – and which is preserved to this day in its art and architecture – it is not just a home – it is a place for all traditions and cultures on this island to share.
I said in my inauguration speech that the theme of my Presidency is ‘Building Bridges’. Over the course of my term of office, Martin and I intend to continue to use Áras an Uachtaráin as a place where links can be forged between people and communities – and where traditions and beliefs can be respected and celebrated.
With award leaders from all over the country here this afternoon, there is plenty of opportunity to build new bridges – and forge new links. But it is essentially a party – an occasion to relax and enjoy yourselves - and to take in as much as you can. I’m delighted that you could come – and I sincerely hope that you enjoy the afternoon.
ENDS