Remarks by PRESIDENT McAleese, at a lunch hosted in her honour by the Federation of Irish American
Remarks by PRESIDENT McAleese, at a lunch hosted in her honour by the Federation of Irish American Societies Philadelphia WED
Tá gliondar orm bheith anseo libh inniu ag an ócáid seo. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as an chuireadh agus as fáilte fíorGhaelach a chur romham.
I would like to thank the Federation of Irish American Societies, the Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the United States and the Philadelphia Immigration Resource Center for your very kind invitation and the very warm welcome you have extended to me.
The range and number of organisations and institutions represented here is eloquent testimony to the vibrant nature of the Irish community in the Philadelphia area today and to the extent of the contribution it has made to the development of this great city.
This is my first visit to Philadelphia since I was elected President though it is a city with which I have family ties which have brought me here in the past so though my time here has been short, I have been deeply impressed once again by the obvious and justifiable pride which you take in your city and in its history.
That history is indeed rich and it puts Philadelphia right at the heart of the American story. That cherished place is perhaps best symbolised and showcased by the fact that your great national holiday on July 4th celebrates the day on which the Declaration of Independence was adopted here in Philadelphia in 1776.
The assertions in that Declaration that all men are created equal and that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, were truly revolutionary in their day. But in the years since, these words have resounded all across the globe, serving as an inspiration for people everywhere who yearn to live in societies which are fully democratic and free. For them, Philadelphia as the cradle of American democracy has been the beacon illuminating the often difficult path to freedom and democracy for many other nations.
And, as on so many occasions in the crucial developments affecting this great nation, there was in 1776 an Irish presence and involvement. Three of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence were Irish born, while another six were of Irish background. The Secretary of the Congress, Charles Thomson, was born in my mother’s birthplace, Maghera, Co. Derry in 1730. The Declaration itself was printed by John Dunlap, a native of Strabane in County Tyrone. These strong associations with the birth of liberty are a source of considerable pride to Irish people everywhere.
Over the two and a quarter centuries since then the Irish community has continued to grow and play an active role in the development of Philadelphia as a major urban and industrial centre. In politics and civic life, business and the labour movement, Irish traditions of public service, mutual support and social engagement have helped to shape the City’s structures and its present character. In their commitment to hard work and in their strong community spirit the new immigrants demonstrated the best characteristics of the Irish experience in America. And as ever, a notable feature of that experience was the high value placed on learning as a vehicle for personal development and success, as evidenced by the distinguished educational institutions founded by the Irish, many of which are represented here today.
The determination never to forget heritage and homeland, while contributing wholeheartedly to the development of their adopted land, has also been an enduring characteristic. Your own organisations have sustained and nourished Irish culture and values and ensured that a profound appreciation of our traditions is transmitted from one generation to the next. More than that you have played your part in keeping Irish culture fresh and dynamic.
The Federation of Irish American Societies has played a crucial role in this context. The establishment of the Federation gave greater focus and coherence to efforts to preserve and strengthen community spirit and to help those most in need. Its founders recognised the enduring validity of the Irish saying “Ní neart go cur le chéile” - “our strength is in our unity”.
Many of your societies are long in existence, with distinguished records of service to the Irish community and to the City generally. They have also been an invaluable source of encouragement and advice to the new organisations that have emerged to meet fresh opportunities and challenges. The Philadelphia Immigration Resource Center established by the Federation in 1998, is one such organisation which, under the leadership of Tom Conaghan and Anne O’Callaghan, is providing much needed support and guidance for immigrants and their families. And in the field of business, the establishment last year of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the United States (ICCUSA) is a timely recognition of the new opportunities which Ireland’s dramatic economic expansion offers for the development of business links with the Philadelphia area. I congratulate its President, Bill McLaughlin, on the great strides the organisation has already made in its very short time in existence.
The long established links of friendship and affection between our two countries have proved crucial to the progress made in the Northern Ireland peace process. I know that the cause of peace is dear to the hearts of all of you here. I am conscious that a large number of the Irish community in the Philadelphia area are, like myself, from the North of Ireland and many of you have first hand experience of the pain and suffering that so many families have had to endure over the last thirty years.
The Good Friday Agreement, signed just two years ago, offers a real opportunity to finally put behind us a history of conflict and to work together for the benefit of all the people on the island, to build a new Ireland based on the principles of justice, equality, partnership and mutual respect.
The Agreement was not of itself a solution but rather afforded a blueprint or framework through which we could work to develop the trust and confidence that had for so long been absent in inter-communal relations in Northern Ireland. Peace and reconciliation, the healing of deep wounds, will of necessity take time and effort.
It is, therefore, perhaps not entirely surprising that there have been set-backs in efforts to give full effect to the Agreement, most notably, the suspension in February of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly. Throughout those difficult times, we have taken heart from the great support of the Irish community here. The positive engagement of the U.S. Administration, of political leaders at Congressional, State and Municipal levels, and of our community in America, has been a crucial ingredient in the considerable advances that we have made. As intensive efforts continue to overcome the remaining difficulties, to restore the institutions on May 22 and realise the promise of a new beginning in Ireland, we are fortified by the knowledge that we can rely on your continued support and prayers. Please be assured that we do not take for granted the huge efforts you make to show your interest in and concern for today’s Ireland. We know how impoverished we would be in so many ways if that effort were not there and it is important that on behalf of the Irish people
I say how much your work means to us and offer a heartfelt thank you.
Mo bhuíochas libh arís as bhur gcuidiú agus bhur dtacaíocht a bhíonn í gcónaí fial agus flaithiúil. Go gcúití Dia bhur saothar daoibh.