REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE IRISH FEST CENTER RECEPTION, SATURDAY, 20TH AUGUST, 2005
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE IRISH FEST CENTER RECEPTION, SATURDAY, 20TH AUGUST, 2005
Dia dhíbh a chairde go léir. Tá an-áthas orm bheith libh ar maidin i Milwaukee agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil libh as fáilte chaoin Ghaelach a chur romham féin agus roimh mo chéile, Máirtín.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for that very warm and generous welcome. It is good to be able to begin my visit to Milwaukee Irish Fest by meeting the people who make it all happen. No doubt you have been working hard for many weeks and months to make the 25th Irish Fest an occasion to remember, the best yet we very much hope, and to say you’ll have a busy few days ahead is no doubt an understatement. I’m grateful then to have this opportunity to meet with you all before you’ve all succumbed to exhaustion!
Later on today in the festival grounds, I will be speaking about the achievements of Milwaukee Irish Fest over the 25 years. This morning though, I have come to Irish Fest Center to learn more about the year-round activities which have grown from Irish Fest. I wanted to meet you, the members of the Board of Irish Fest and the all-important volunteers and to say go raibh míle maith agaibh for your extraordinary efforts, commitment and dedication over the past quarter century.
Over those years, Milwaukee Irish Fest has grown to become one of the great celebrations of Ireland and of Irish culture and tradition anywhere in the world. We in Ireland are blessed to be part of a global Irish family and it is both moving and inspiring to see what that family has achieved.
Here in Milwaukee, generations of Irish men and women have cherished their Irish heritage. But they have done more than cherish it – they have celebrated it with pride. And in the last 25 years, nowhere has this sense of proud celebration been better expressed than at Irish Fest.
An event of the scale and ambition of Milwaukee Irish Fest is only made possible through a vast amount of dedication and hard work. I pay tribute to all those who have had a hand over the years in building Irish Fest into what it is today. In particular I congratulate Ed Ward, Founder and President of Irish Fest, who has done so much to make Irish culture come alive here in Milwaukee. I would like to thank the Irish Fest Board Members, Executive Director, Jane Anderson, the volunteers, everyone who has given so generously of their time and effort and talent to making the 25th Irish Fest a success. I thank you for your contribution to the Irish culture and heritage we are so proud to share.
It is good to see that many people have travelled from Ireland to be part of Irish Fest. We have a delegation from Galway, including the Lord Mayors of both County Galway and the City of Galway. Galway city is, as some of you will know a Sister City to Milwaukee. I would like to pay particular tribute to the Spirit of Galway group which has led the way in promoting tourism and cultural links between Galway and Milwaukee Irish Fest. Your presence is testament to the strength and vibrancy of that which binds the Irish nation at home and abroad.
In recognition of the scale of achievement which Irish Fest represents, and also of its cultural significance, the Government of Ireland has given its support to Irish Fest, through funding participants. For some years now, Irish Government Ministers have attended the Fest, beginning with the Arts and Heritage Minister, Síle De Valera in 1998. Government Ministers are now regular visitors to Irish Fest, and I am pleased to be joined this morning by our Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, on his fourth visit to this celebration of our heritage and culture.
Thank you again for the warmth of your welcome. I hope that this year’s Fest is the very best it could be. Congratulations on what you have achieved over the past 25 years. I wish you even greater success in the next 25.
Comghairdeas libh ar an ócáid speisialta seo agus go raibh míle maith agaibh.