REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF DRAÍOCHT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS BLANCHARDSTOWN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF DRAÍOCHT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS BLANCHARDSTOWN THURSDAY, 3 MAY, 2001
Cuireann sé áthas ar mo chroí bheith anseo libh inniu agus tá mé buíoch díbh as an chuireadh agus as an fáilte fíorchaoin a chur sibh romham.
I am delighted to be here with you today on the occasion of the official opening of this exceptional venue, and I would like to thank Alan Connolly for his kind invitation.
The Draíocht story is a truly inspirational one. It is the story of a small local committee who together conceived the idea of creating a major venue for the arts here in Blanchardstown. They had an idea, no money, no way of delivering the idea unless it caught on, unless it appealed to the imagination of the people of the Blanchardstown area. And it did. The people of Blanchardstown and surrounding areas, and the wider artistic and business communities embraced and recognised in this idea something so worthwhile that they were prepared to commit to it. People with different interests, different talents, very different perspectives, people from every walk of life offered their time, their energy and their own particular gifts to the project. No two people did the same thing and out of this truly remarkable communal effort we are able to see the huge potential we have as a people when we set a common goal and all pull together to achieve it.
The result of your endeavours was the construction of a completely new state-of-the-art complex, purpose-built to be a home to the broadest possible range of artistic activities. This centre is one of the most ambitious and significant of its kind to be built in this country. It will accommodate both professional and amateur work in every imaginable artistic field, from drama and dance to poetry and puppetry. It will offer a comprehensive programme of courses, lectures, workshops and participative activities for people of all ages and interests.
With 40% of the local population under the age of 15, this place will provide young people with a first-class, close to home opportunity to grow a real love of the arts and to grow very confident in their own ability to contribute to the arts.
Draíocht knows the arts are for everyone and when a community has a rich, varied, wide cultural life, it has a valuable deep-rooted civic strength and civic spirit. These are the things which make a community healthy, a decent, pleasant place to live, a place where people are empowered by the mood around them, a place to be proud of. Participation in the arts introduces us to the wealth of talent in our world and in our area. Here too new friendships will be made and new interests pursued.
This will be a place of great adventure. Its vast scope and potential is a gift to the future from all those who initiated, organised and supported this outstanding project. I would like to thank each and every one of them for their enthusiasm, dedication and generosity.
I would also like to commend the financial assistance provided by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Fingal County Council and local industry sponsorship. Without their support this project would not have flourished as it has.
Today is a day for all involved in this project to take pride in their achievement, for the people of Blanchardstown, Fingal and beyond to celebrate the arrival of the Draoícht Centre. Now all that remains is for the magic and the enchantment to begin and for this place to cast its spell over the coming years. You have a lot to look forward to and a lot to look back on with deep satisfaction.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.