REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF HOOK LIGHTHOUSE VISITOR CENTRE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF HOOK LIGHTHOUSE VISITOR CENTRE, WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 2001
Cuireann sé áthas ar mo chroí bheith anseo libh inniu agus tá mé buíoch díbh as an chuireadh as as fáilte fíorchaoin a chur sibh romham.
I am delighted to join you on this wonderful occasion to open the Hook Lighthouse Visitor Centre and I would like to thank Minister Hugh Byrne, Chairperson of the Heritage Trust for the kind invitation.
Whatever the weather, Hook Head is a place of spectacular natural beauty, a place that draws visitors to it from across the globe. They come to experience the magnificent coa/stal views, and of course this ancient and still operational lighthouse with its own unique magic.
There is something about a lighthouse, isn’t there.
Throughout the world, and throughout the centuries, lighthouses have held a very special place in our imagination. The story of light keeping is a story of constancy, of watching over others and of caring for the stranger. To those at sea the lighthouse has been a beacon of security, a bright light in a darkened sea, a warning to take care and a steadfast guide to safe harbour. Little wonder then that lighthouses in every continent and in every ocean are held in near mystical regard by all who pledge their lives to the sea.
It is easy to be here and to imagine what this place must have meant to generations of people, both strangers and natives who have sailed close to our shores. If we try, I'm sure we could still hear the tread of the monks descending here after Evensong to light the fires that warned of the perils of the coastline. You wonder if, in their excitement, they would have maintained the Silence they vowed. Then again, perhaps the kindling of that light was so much part of their monastic lives, that it, in some way, became a routine yet profound part of the daily ritual or expression of their spirituality. Thirteen hundred years may lie between us and them, but today, we are united across time by this special and ancient place.
It is fitting that what was once the edge of the known world should be home to the lighthouse that is recorded as being the oldest in Europe and the fourth oldest in the world. Many generations of families in all corners of the world have Hook Lighthouse to thank, at least in part, for the safe return of their loved ones from perilous journeys. Similarly, there are many thousands of Irish people, for whom Hook was the very last glimpse of Ireland, hearts breaking at leaving their families behind, as they sailed off in search of a new life in England, America or Australia. Our thoughts are with them, too, today.
But equally, in remembering that past, we know we have much to celebrate. The economic circumstances which drove our young from villages and towns all over Ireland to far off shores have given way to a remarkable new story. Today our economic and cultural resurgence allow us to offer new hope and a better life to all our people so that they can choose to stay in Ireland, to build their lives to rear families in their homeland. The tourism industry is playing a vital role in providing new opportunities and locations such as Hook are, in turn, playing a vital role in the development of the tourism industry.
I would like to congratulate everyone involved in social, business, statutory and voluntary groups who have come together magnificently to create something wonderful for the area. Everyone here today can be proud of this shared achievement. A very special thank you must go to the community-led board of directors. What a superb job you did. This new visitors centre will provide jobs for the local community - jobs that facilitate choice, that pay mortgages, build houses, educate children, nourish and sustain the Hook community into a new generation.
I am told that in the first few weeks of the visitor centre opening its doors to the public and in advance of any major marketing activity the centre attracted over 20,000 visitors. Quite a remarkable achievement - a vindication of all the hopes and the hard work.
Nature has conspired to give this area a head start in the beauty stakes and I have no doubt the romantic allure of this lighthouse will continue to inspire and delight many thousands of visitors so that this magnificent area will become a must see on any tourist trail.
It gives me great pleasure to officially open the Hook Lighthouse Visitor Centre.