REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A RECEPTION FOR THE IRISH COMMUNITY BARCELONA
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A RECEPTION FOR THE IRISH COMMUNITY BARCELONA WEDNESDSAY, 23RD MARCH 2011
Dia dhíbh a chairde, I am delighted to be here among you in Barcelona this afternoon.
I would like first of all to thank President Mas and Mayor Hereu for their warm welcome to Barcelona and to thank the Mayor in particular for his wonderful hospitality and the great honour he has rendered to Ireland by inviting the Irish extended family in Barcelona here today. A special word of thanks too to Enrique Cucurella, Ireland’s Honorary Consul General in Barcelona, who has been doing outstanding work – for nearly 20 years - in helping Irish citizens in Barcelona in need of consular assistance.
Ireland’s connections with Barcelona run very deep. From the historic and turbulent days of 1710 when Irishmen (and women) were involved in the Siege of Barcelona, to more modern literary and cultural links – for instance Irish writer Colm Tóibín who has written so fondly about this city – and the very productive twinning agreement between Barcelona and the city of Dublin, which is celebrated by the presence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin here today.
I was struck when reading the vivid description in Colm Tóibín’s book
“Homage to Barcelona” of the parade for La Fiesta de la Merce, by the similarity between this great pageant and the colourful celebrations of St Patrick’s Day around Ireland. I know that Barcelona had yet another very successful St Patrick’s Day Festival last week organized by Sergi Loughney whom I think we can rightly call the most famous living Catalan-Irishman in Barcelona!
Many contemporary Irish connections with Barcelona are in the artistic and cultural fields, which is no surprise given Barcelona’s well-deserved reputation for creativity and innovation in art and design. Justin Donlon, a young Irishman, is involved in an artists’ collective called the Gracia Arts Project and Stephen Garland, impresario, regularly brings Irish comedy and Irish music to Barcelona.
Education has been a theme of my visit here – celebrating the many educational links between Ireland and Spain, which as you know date back hundreds of years. I am proud that Universities in Barcelona have on their staff distinguished Irish academics, such as Mary Nash, Sean Golden, and Eamonn Butterfield, and that many Irish students spend their Erasmus year in this great city.
I would like to pay tribute today to Seamus Farrell, an Irishman who has made a very special contribution to educational links between Ireland and Barcelona. He came here in the 1960s and in 1970 set up the Dublin School of English, which counted among its teaching staff many stars and at least one world famous novelist - Colm Tóibín. Séamus’ friends here tell me that through his work at the school, his involvement in promoting Irish sports, and his celebration in his establishment The Quiet Man of Irish writing and Irish theatre, there is no-one who has done more to raise the profile of Ireland and to promote Irish culture in Catalunya and in Barcelona in the last forty years. For that Séamus Farrell deserves our great thanks and appreciation.
I’m delighted but not at all surprised to learn there is a vibrant GAA scene here in Barcelona, with hurling and football being played with much enthusiasm – by Irish and Catalans alike. I imagine the summer heat here is an extra challenge and one that means Irish-born players don’t necessarily hold all the advantages over their Catalan teammates! I know too that members of the Irish community have in recent years brought Curach racing to Barcelona’s waterfront. I’m sorry to have arrived too late to see last week’s race in honour of St Patrick’s Day - it must have been a thrilling spectacle to see the coming together of the maritime traditions of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
My visit here is to honour all of your efforts to promote what it is to be Irish in your adopted home and to encourage future endeavours and new connections. Earlier today in the Palau de la Generalitat, President Mas and I addressed an event organised by Enterprise Ireland which aims to promote mutually-beneficial links between Ireland and Spain in the pharmaceutical industry. I bring a strong message to Catalunya that Ireland is open for business. Our economy is recovering. Our exports continue to perform well. Ireland is shouldering its responsibilities to future generations in laying the basis for a return to economic growth. I would like to make particular mention of the Spanish-Irish Business Network supported by the Irish Embassy and Enterprise Ireland, which I understand has a growing membership here in Barcelona. Through my visit, I hope that the vibrant economic, cultural and personal partnerships that link Ireland and this great city will continue to prosper and grow.
I return to Ireland reinvigorated by my contact with the Irish people I have met on this visit, some resident, others here to do business, all with a great love of Ireland and a determination to show their mettle as a people who face challenges and overcome adversity. I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet so many of you here today.
In your daily lives in this wonderful place, you are excellent ambassadors for Ireland and are writing the next chapter in the wonderful history of Irish-Catalan friendship. Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir.