REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT AN UNDERAGE SPORT RECEPTION ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT AN UNDERAGE SPORT RECEPTION ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN MONDAY, 25TH NOVEMBER, 2002.
Dia dhíobh a chairde. Is sona liom bheith i bhur measc ar an ócaid fíor-thábhachtach seo. Fearaim fíor-chaoin fáilte roimh gach duine atá i láthair anseo, agus rompu siúd uile atá bainteach le cúrsaí spóirt.
Martin and I are delighted to welcome each one of you to Áras an Uachtaráin today to this celebration of the sporting achievements, the sporting excellence of the young people of Ireland. It’s our chance to say a heartfelt thank you and well done for your ambassadorship for sport.
There is a story often told about the foreigner attending his first All-Ireland football match who commented “you Irish treat the game like it’s a matter of life and death”, to which some quick-wit replied “ Not at all - it’s far more important than that.” And that sums up our relationship with sport. We love it in all its forms and virtually all its forms are represented here, including my own contribution – I represent that huge body of men and women who are unofficial advisers to the referees.
You don’t need to be told the magic that sport works in a life but for a lot of other people who do not yet know that magic and whose lives are a lot less healthy and happy because of that absence - you are the best adverts we have for sport as a way of self-discovery. Sport offers many things from simple friendships, memories of great days of success and shared days of disappointment, loyalty to team, to club, to county or country, discipline, good health, opportunities to travel and many many more. But ultimately the biggest journey sport takes you is the journey into your self - who you are, what you are made of, what you can make yourself become.
I am sure there are many times you feel like staying in and watching TV rather than face a training session or a game in the wet and cold, but you get up and get on with it. And so what we really celebrate here today is the courage and commitment, the effort and the sacrifices because these are important human values which any society is the better for.
Putting those values to work day in and day out in your lives can be a difficult and a lonely journey but it is made easier by the enormous help of trainers, coaches and mentors, and the army of doctors, physios, supporters, sponsors and organisers whose generosity is the life-blood of sport itself. That generosity is a priceless gift to you, our young people, helping you to realise hopes and dreams and to inspire self-belief. As the old Irish saying goes ‘mol an oige agus tiocfaidh siad.’
I hope that you will enjoy this afternoon, I know that some have travelled long distances to be here and some maybe not so far but I hope you will take the opportunity to meet new people, share your stories, pick up some new tips and even make a new friend or two. As you can see among the guests there are some very well-known and exceptional sportsmen and women - people who have given us fantastic memories, great moments and who keep on making us very proud. Today I hope in some small way you will know how very grateful we are for your lives, your talents and for the way in which you use them.
For your entertainment this afternoon we had the very talented Orlagh Fallen playing the harp in the entrance hall as you arrived and in this room, the fabulous Ceoltóirí Choláiste Eoin. I would also like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in organising today’s reception, the staff here at the Áras, our MC Jimmy Magee who is well and truly woven into the history of Irish sport and Civil Defence First Aider, John Gould.
Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.