REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICAL OPENING OF ‘GAIRDÍN AN GHORTA NEWMARKET, HUGGINSTOWN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICAL OPENING OF ‘GAIRDÍN AN GHORTA NEWMARKET, HUGGINSTOWN, CO. KILKENNY
Is mór an pléisiúir dom bheith anseo i bhur measc ag an ócáid stairiúil seo. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as ucht bhur bhfáilte chaoin.
I am delighted to be here with you today and I would like to thank the Secretary of Newmarket Tidy Towns and Community Arts Group, Croistóir Ó Tuama, and all of the members for inviting me to officially open this memorial garden. My thanks also to the Chairperson, Joan Power, for her warm welcome.
The landscape of Ireland still bears the physical scars of the greatest disaster of modern Irish history. The countless deserted villages, paupers’ graveyards and former workhouses provide a constant reminder of what an appalling tragedy the Great Famine was for our country.
But the emotional scars are there too. The 100th anniversary of the Famine was still too close to allow us to properly confront the painful memories of the Famine years. The past few years – and especially the 150th anniversary of ‘Black ‘47’, have given us an opportunity to remember those who died, and those who were driven from our shores, to mourn their loss but also - through that remembrance - to come to terms with the disaster; to begin the healing process that comes not from burying the pain as we did for so long, but by acknowledging it, speaking of it, commemorating it through memorial gardens such as this. Only through that commemoration can the process of healing begin.
From this distance we see things in a fresh new light. The awful scattering of the Irish to every corner of the earth has now given us a huge global family, many of whom have contributed at the highest level to the countries of their adoption. They have globalised Irish culture, supported us in hard times, been the energy behind our peace process. Today we look back with amazement at how we have been transformed by that history and now we are ready for the healing. For it is important we do not forget the debts we owe - that today’s success is built on the sacrifice of other generations.
Gairdín an Ghorta plays an important role in that healing process. I would like to warmly commend the people of Newmarket, young people from the local schools, the FAS workers who lent their skills to the project and, most of all, the Committee members for undertaking this important initiative. You deserve great praise for the spirit of generosity with which you contributed time, money and energy in completing this initiative. Gardens such as this, and the Heritage Centre it contains, are important reminders to our young people of the history and heritage of their community. And I have no doubt that the opportunity which they received to participate in this project will ensure that the community spirit for which Newmarket is renowned will be passed on to the next generation.
This Garden is one important way of commemorating the Famine. There are other, equally important ways of doing this. Indeed our own experience as a people confers on us a responsibility in relation to other parts of the world which are experiencing famine, poverty or oppression. We can be justifiably proud of the extraordinary response that the Irish people and Irish aid agencies have made when crises have arisen in Africa or in the aftermath of the terrible destruction wreaked by Hurricane Mitch in Honduras – which I witnessed myself. Today, we think especially of the plight of the people of East Timor, Turkey and Kosovo. It is important amid our current prosperity that we retain the generosity of spirit that has always marked us as a people – shaped by our own experience of famine and want – and that we work towards creating a life of dignity for people in all parts of the world.
Gairdín an Ghorta is not just a commemoration of the past. It will be a valuable resource and amenity for locals and visitors alike, a meeting place, a place of enjoyment, and a tribute to all those who worked so hard to complete it. I have no doubt that Newmarket Tidy Towns has further projects in the pipeline and I wish you every success with these.
Mar chríoch, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl daoibh go léir as ucht an chuireadh a thabhairt dom teacht anseo inniu. Guím Rath Dé oraibh go léir sna blianta atá romhaibh. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.