REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE PRESIDENT’S GOLD AWARD, GAISCE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE PRESIDENT’S GOLD AWARD, GAISCE, AT THE KINGS INNS, MONDAY, 23 FEBRUARY
Dia dhíbh a cháirde. Tá an-áthas orm behith anseo libh ar an ócáid speisialta seo agus san áit speisialta seo.
There are few if any of my functions as President that give me as much pleasure as learning about the experiences of the many, many young people who undertake either Gold, Silver or Bronze Gaisce challenge – a challenge which is a journey of self-discovery, revealing to yourself what you are made of. Brendan Kennelly put it well on presenting Silver Gaisce Awards when he said "You are not comparing yourself with anyone; you are not competing with anyone; what you are actually doing is creating yourself."
Many participants have travelled the world testing themselves, stretching themselves. Many more have deepened their knowledge of community while deepening their knowledge of themselves. They have learnt the truth of St Francis’ prayer - that it is in giving that we receive for they have volunteered in thousands of different ways from fundraising for Aids sufferers in Africa to entertaining the disabled, the elderly, the lonely at home. Make no mistake about it we gather today to offer respectful recognition to the very best young people our country has produced. They have made us very proud and the really good news is that more and more young people are submitting to this voluntary journey into the self - a journey which strengthens each of them and helps them to blossom into the kind of rooted, resourceful, resilient, compassionate individuals that a healthy civic society needs.
It’s hard to believe that next year marks the 20th anniversary of the awards. In that first year, 1985, there were just 300 participants. Last year that number was almost 10,000. Not only that but today the Award is available across the entire island of Ireland where its partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a tremendous example of collegiality and mutual respect.
They say that you should test your friends before you need them. These young men and women have, without any compulsion, submitted themselves to the toughest of tests. They have triumphed and their investment in the President’s Awards has been a huge investment in tomorrow’s Ireland. These are the backbone of family, community, workplace, society, the young people who are transcending life’s ups and downs with a spirit of “can do”.
Today 48 admirable young men and women each with an utterly unique story to tell, will receive the highest accolade this country offers to any citizen - the President’s Gold Award. When you wear the pin, when you write of it on your c.v’s, others will know the calibre of person they are dealing with - for you went out and deliberately sought life’s challenges before they tripped you up – you made yourselves uncomfortable, set yourselves deadlines, pushed yourselves to the limit. You earned the right to be here.
There are many people who deserve our gratitude for everything they’ve done through the years to bring about the extraordinary development of the Awards. The Awards Staff so ably led by John Murphy, the Board of Gaisce led with immense energy and dedication by Ned Sullivan, the cohort of volunteers known as Pals who are the backbone of the organisation, the Sponsors, the benefactors, the schools, the employers, the families and the fundraisers. A particular thank-you to the recent hugely successful fundraising efforts led by Pascal Taggart and Ireland’s greyhound racing community.
To each and every person who has contributed to making the Awards the great success story they are today I offer my warmest thanks for without your enthusiastic hard work and support we would not have this success story to tell - a story which incidentally is unique across the dozens of countries in which such schemes operate. What you do is hugely important to the President’s Awards and the Presidents Awards are hugely important to the continued growth and future peaceful, prosperous, development of this island. None of these young people will let you down. In and through their lives your faith and trust and belief and unstinting support will, I know, be vindicated many times over.
Comhghairdeachas libh go léir. Go raibh maith agaibh.