REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT A RECEPTION TO MARK THE TWELFTH OF JULY ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT A RECEPTION TO MARK THE TWELFTH OF JULY ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN SUNDAY, 12TH JULY 2009
Cuireann sé áthas ar mo chroí fáilte fíorchaoin a chur romhaibh go léir chuig Áras an Uachtaráin. Is ócáid speisialta í se domsa agus tá gliondar orm í a cheiliúradh libh anseo inniu.
Hello everyone and welcome to Áras an Uachtaráin this afternoon as we gather, children of the Williamites, children of the Jacobites, in a new solidarity with one another to mark July 12th 2009. I offer each of you the traditional welcome of the house - Céad Mile Fáilte - one hundred thousand welcomes.
This is now the twelfth year that Martin and I have hosted this special commemoration of those events along the Boyne river which in 1690 changed the course of Irish and European history. Now we in our generation have also changed the course of Ireland’s history by making peace with one another, seeking friendship with one another and doing what we can to bring about a vibrant culture of good neighbourliness all over this island.
This house is a very appropriate place for such a gathering for it has been a mute witness to many different Irelands over the best part of three centuries. For most of its life the house stood in an undivided Ireland which was part of the British Empire. It was the home of the Viceroys, a place often visited by the monarch of the day and we are only a few feet away from the giant sequoia planted almost one hundred and fifty years ago by Queen Victoria. Since partition this has been the home of Governors General and Ireland’s eight Presidents. So whatever your politics or perspective some part of it is captured under the roof of this house and we fervently hope that this is a place in which you feel comfortable and welcomed.
I know for some coming here this day was much more than a journey of miles and kilometres but a longer and more difficult journey of the heart that took courage and determination. It is that same courage and determination which is investing in a fresh new future for all who share this island, allowing us to hope that the days of enmity are behind us and the days of good fellowship are ahead. Good fellowship needs good people to do good things, like talking to one another, shaking hands, building human bridges across those gaps of distrust. There is no easy way to do it but there are pleasant ways to do it and I hope that today is one of those, when we meet many of us as strangers, but over the course of an afternoon share each others company and leave with less of a sense of strangeness and the beginnings of a new friendship or two.
Everyone here is a part of that process, your innate goodness, kindness and compassion is part of a growing tide of decency, of risk-taking that will in time flood this island with trust and confidence in one another allowing us to live comfortably with differences and divisions and to solve our problems by healthy discussion.
Today we acknowledge our shared past and how it shaped our view of ourselves and of one another. We have not always used the past wisely or well. But we share a commitment to using the present to the best of our abilities to be more generous, respectful and caring of one another. So today enjoy each other’s company and don’t be the least bit shy about offering your hand to a perfect stranger - it is the only way to stop being strangers. Enjoy the house, the hospitality, the music and what I hope will be happy memories. This is not a day when we rerun the Battle of the Boyne. History made some losers and some winners on that day. But there was a peace still to be made and centuries in its making. On this day we their successors are all winners for we are the peace-makers, the peace-builders and there is no greater gift we can leave behind us.
On your behalf I thank all who have worked to make this a special day, the staff here in the Áras preparing everything from flower beds to food, the entertainers, the Civil Defence, the Gardaí, the Tour Guides who will be escorting you around the Áras. Between them, each with their own job to do, each with their own unique talents and skills have created a day of good memories - another great example of the power of difference working together with a shared agenda to make people happy.
I hope that all of you have a most enjoyable evening, and that you bring home many warm memories of your visit to Áras an Uachtaráin.
Have fun and enjoy the house and each other’s company.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.