REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE ANCHOR CHILDCARE CENTRE, BALDOYLE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE ANCHOR CHILDCARE CENTRE, BALDOYLE ON MONDAY, 7 JUNE, 2003
Is cúis mhór áthais dom bheith anseo libh inniu ag an ocáid spisialta seo. Tá me buíoch díbh as an chuireadh agus an fáilte fíorchaoin a chur sibh romham.
I am delighted to be in Baldoyle today to officially open the Anchor Childcare Centre. I would particularly like to thank Linda Hayden, Centre Manager for the kind invitation to join in your celebrations. And you are surely entitled to celebrate for this day marks the culmination of many months of hard work and unrelenting commitment.
Ireland’s children are Ireland’s future and here you care about that future and you care about this community’s children. All the work is for them and for their families.
There is a saying that “what is learnt in childhood is engraved on stone”. Years ago the engraver made a small mistake on the headstone on my grandfather’s grave. When we asked if it could be rectified we were told that the best advice would be to take it down and put up a new one. We don’t get that chance with our children. We get one go around. Get it right and the child’s natural talents and gifts blossom, like a diamond revealing itself in the hands of a skilled diamond cutter. Get it wrong and the flaws can last a wasted lifetime.
Your work is about making sure that childhood and parenting years are well spent. It is about creating trustworthy and affordable childcare, high-quality early education and space in parents’ lives so that they can spread their wings into training or employment or volunteering or personal development. Every life helped here is a life made stronger, a family made stronger, a community and a country made stronger.
The Special Olympics World Summer Games gave us a huge insight into the colossal power we have when we work together. That power alone is what turns a bunch of strangers into good neighbours and into a caring community. It builds structures, it builds confidence and it builds a better future. But it always begins with people who dare to care about the future, who begin to plan and who stay focused no matter how big the undertaking. You have such people here in Baldoyle. People saw the need for this facility and set about making the connections and the partnership that would deliver it.
One of the definitions of anchor is “ a source of security or stability” and this centre is built on two strong supports, for it is an exceptionally fine example of collaboration between the community and the statutory agencies. Here children will learn and develop in a happy and secure environment. Here adults will find a place that listens to their needs and creates opportunities designed to enhance their lives.
This is a community at its very best and I congratulate everyone whose faith and hard work brought this Centre into existence - Dave Dennehy Chairperson, the members of the management committee, the statutory agencies who have provided funding and the many volunteers who have all played a part putting this terrific new resource at the service of the men, women and children of Baldoyle. You are entitled to a righteous pride in what you have accomplished so far. You are also entitled to look ahead with great self-assurance for the future is sure to bring many more accomplishments. You already know that you are people who get up and get organized. You are a coping and a caring community with a proven track record of success. I wish you many more successes in the years ahead.
Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.