REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE WHITEFRIAR ST. COMMUNITY CENTRE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE WHITEFRIAR ST. COMMUNITY CENTRE FRIDAY, 14th MAY 1999
Tá an-athás orm bheith anseo i bhur measc inniú. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as ucht bhur bhfáilte caoin.
I am delighted to be with you today to celebrate the official opening of the Community Centre here on Whitefriar St. I am honoured to be present on such a special occasion and I would like to thank the Course Co-ordinator, Ann Gill, for her warm welcome, and Fr. Michael Morrissey and all of the Development Project Committee for inviting me here.
We have many reasons to celebrate this new centre, not least because of the enormous amount of dedication and hard work it took for everyone to get back on their feet when the previous centre was destroyed by fire some years back. I would like to pay tribute to Sr. Teresa Roche, who tragically died in the fire and who had given so many years of loving commitment to this community. I think she would have been proud of the way that local people have refused to accept defeat and started their efforts all over again. This new centre is a fitting tribute to her memory, for it shows that buildings may perish, but where hope and determination exist, it is impossible to destroy dreams.
I know that this is a much needed and much appreciated resource in the area. More than anything else, it is a living centre, a focal point for the community and one which extends a welcome and a helping hand to everyone, whatever their circumstances. It certainly caters for all age groups, with services ranging from a crèche, to a food centre for the homeless and elderly, to facilities for young people, to services for the ‘Golden Wonders’ (as I understand the senior citizens have named themselves). The personal development, parenting, health and many other courses are of practical and educational benefit; but most of all, they give people a break from normal routine, they show that each of us is capable of learning, of surprising ourselves by how much we can achieve; they provide an opportunity to develop new friendships and mutual support. They show that each person deserves to be valued and respected, that each of us has talents which, if only given the chance, can come alive and brighten our life and the lives of those around us.
It is that philosophy of caring, of valuing each person as a unique and irreplaceable individual that I believe is the secret of this Centre’s success. That success owes much also to the sense of genuine partnership that has evolved between so many organisations and individuals: the Eastern Health Board, the V.E.C., Dublin Corporation, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, FAS, Crosscare, the CYC and many others. I would like to say thank you to all of you. For your co-operation proves the truth of the Irish saying ‘Ní neart go chur le chéile’ – there is unity in strength.
There are many individuals who deserve special mention: Sr Teresa Roche, who died so tragically in 1995; Ann Gill; Sr Hilda who looks after those ‘Golden Wonders’so well; Bernadette Tyrell, the FAS supervisor, and many more. I would like to pay a particular tribute to Sister Monica Bones who retired last year after 30 years of tireless energy and dedication in the Food Centre.
Most of all, we owe our heartfelt thanks to the Carmelite Community, who have given so generously of their time, their facilities, their funding, and in particular, their love, to the people of this area. They have made the gospel message of caring and hope a reality within this community. I warmly commend the Prior, Fr Frank O’Gara, the Provincial, Fr. Robert Kelly and everyone within the Carmelite community for all your their work.
There is one last but vital element in that partnership which makes this centre so important. That is the efforts of local people. It is your centre, because you have made it your own, you have worked for it and you deserve all the benefits I know it will bring.
I wish all of you every success in the years to come.
Is iontach an obair atá ar siúl agaibh agus guím gach rath air san am atá le teacht.