REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE IRISH FARM WOMENS AWARDS, BANK OF IRELAND, COLLEGE GREEN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE IRISH FARM WOMENS AWARDS, BANK OF IRELAND, COLLEGE GREEN, WEDNESDAY, 28TH APRIL, 1999
I am delighted to have been asked to present the awards at today’s function and I would like to thank the Chairwoman of the National Farm Family Committee, Betty Murphy for the invitation.
The role of Irish farm-women, their contribution to rural life and the maintenance of family farmsteads has, down through the years, often been undervalued and not given the recognition it deserves. The concept of the Irish Farm Womens’ Award is, therefore, a very worthwhile one, with significance far beyond the awards’ recipients themselves. It is important for farm women generally as tangible recognition by the wider community of the key role which they play in sustaining and enriching daily life in the Irish countryside.
Our rural areas are currently experiencing significant economic, social and indeed cultural changes. The challenge which these changes present for rural society has resulted in the emergence of rural development as a prominent goal of public policy both at EU and national level.
As a result of this debate on rural development, the role of women in rural development has emerged as a key concern. As we all know, women are very often the initiators and motivators behind voluntary, social and community organisations in rural areas. They have an acute awareness of the importance and value of these essential organisations to the quality of life in their community. Many of you here today are among those who have given of your time – scarce and precious as it is – to care for others in your community, because you know that it is, to use the Irish phrase, ‘Ar scath a chéile a mhaireann na daoine’. We each depend on each other to survive and to thrive, especially in rural areas.
At an economic level however, there remains an under-recognition of your status and contribution, not least because so much of your work within family farms and businesses does not come within the statistical definition of economic work. This contributes to womens’ marginalisation within rural development policies and strategies. Women have a key role to play in the revitalisation of the rural economy but isolation, limited access to training and limited employment opportunities create distinct problems for many women and prevent them from getting fully involved in local development efforts.
These are problems which all of us – not just rural women – need to be concerned about. If it is the case - and I believe it is - that the current economic success story in this country owes much to the opening up of educational and employment opportunities to women, in urban areas especially, – then it is clear that unless similar opportunities are provided for rural women, we are punching well below our strength as a nation. If the potential of half of the people in rural areas remains underdeveloped, then only half of the potential rewards can be reaped.
Rural Ireland is not just an important source of employment for our people. It is the storehouse of much of our culture, language, folklore, dance and music. These are unique resources that we are all proud of and all benefit from. They have contributed so much to the general resurgence of cultural confidence that Ireland as a whole now enjoys. We therefore all have a stake in ensuring that rural Ireland survives and thrives in the future.
There is no doubt that significant progress has been made. Many initiatives at European and Government level now formally recognise the vital role of women in rural development in running family farms and in sustaining the lifeblood of the community through networks and community groups. Much is being done to promote training and part-time employment opportunities outside the family farm. These initiatives are greatly to be welcomed. For there is no doubt that rural life has changed significantly and will continue to do so. Those changes require imaginative responses – the development of more tourism opportunities such as open farms, or the manufacture of high value added products such as farmhouse cheeses and yoghurts - are just two examples of what can be done. I have no doubt that women have played a key role in these success stories, for they have all the hallmarks of innovation and determination, of turning difficulties into opportunities, that women have always demonstrated.
Awards such as these are important in encouraging women to have the self-confidence and support to make the most of their ideas and talents, to grasp opportunities such as these. Most of all, these Awards provide recognition for the hard work, commitment and determination that all the participants have shown. You should be proud of yourself, for we are all proud of you.
I would like to thank the sponsors of these awards for helping to make this such a special event: especially Paddy Murphy and Maurice Keane from Bank of Ireland; Matt Dempsey, editor of the Farmers Journal and, of course, Tom Parlon, President of the IFA.
Finally, I would again wish to thank the IFA Farm Family Committee for inviting me to present these Awards. I wish all the individual award winners continued success and the best of luck in the future.