Remarks by President McAleese at the Family Day Garden Party Áras an Uachtaráin, 10 July, 2009
Remarks by President McAleese at the Family Day Garden Party Áras an Uachtaráin, 10 July, 2009
Dia dhíbh go léir, agus céad míle fáilte chuig Áras an Uachtaráin inniu.
Hello everyone. Martin and I are very happy having you all here to our home today and we look forward to sharing your company for an afternoon of fun and friendship.
We’ve been blessed with the weather today and don’t the house and gardens look well when we get a bit of sunshine. I’m particularly glad that the Irish rain that does seem to like making an appearance in July has held off for us and particularly for the children who want to run about and play in the gardens.
This old house – and it is old - more than a quarter of a millennium old, really feels most alive when we have the presence of children. It’s a delight to hear the sounds of laughter of happy young people together with the rest of you oldies, that’s anyone over 25 of course - mothers and fathers, uncles and aunts, grandparents and even some special cousins. You are all very welcome to Áras an Uachtaráin for a special day to celebrate families and mark the end of another school year and the start of Summer holidays.
So a big thank you, to each of you, for coming here from all over the island of Ireland to help us celebrate the summer. You have come with family and friends and they are the people who make us feel most at home, most loved. Today, we celebrate all the people we love and who love us. We celebrate too friends and friendship and maybe you’ll even make a new pal or two by just saying hello to someone, especially if you see that they are on their own, maybe they’re just a bit shy!
I am conscious that for many families in Ireland, the past year has been tough as so many have lost jobs and are finding it hard to make ends meet. But we should remember that in this country we have always been resilient and inevitably our economic fortunes will turn again. We hope that for all those families that day will come soon.
Enjoy your day; we have some lovely food and great entertainment for you. Enjoy the house, the gardens, and make yourselves at home.
On your behalf and my own I thank all the staff here in Áras an Uachtaráin for the hard work they’ve put in to make this a special fun day for you. Our compère today is RTE Lyric Broadcaster, Evelyn Grant, thank you Evelyn, and somebody told me we’ve a gorilla from Cork, but thank God I haven’t met him yet! I’d also like to thank our fantastic entertainers this afternoon: the Knocklyon Concert Band - all 60 of them - under the baton of their conductor Andre Kavanagh; our other wonderful performers - all from RTE’s All Island Talent Competition - Donna Marie Sludds, Daithí Ó Dronai, Bert & Victor O’Brien, Jack Lynch, Cliona Hagan, Roisin Seoige, and all the wonderful people from Stagecraft Ireland who are painting faces and performing magic and organising games - they have all been amazing. A big thank you also to our friends in the Civil Defence, the Gardaí and the Tour Guides.
I hope you have a great afternoon, and that when you get safely home you’ll bring with you happy memories of your visit to Áras an Uachtaráin.
Go raibh maith agaibh.