REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE UNVEILING OF A PLAQUE TO MARK KENMARE WINNING
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE UNVEILING OF A PLAQUE TO MARK KENMARE WINNING THE NATIONAL AWARD IN THE 2000 TIDY TOWNS
Tá an-áthas orm bheith anseo libh inniu agus muid ag céiliúradh an ócáid mhór seo. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl daoibh as an chuireadh agus as fáilte a bhí caoin, cneasta agus croíúil.
I am delighted to be with you today in Kenmare to celebrate your fantastic achievement on winning the National Award in last year’s Tidy Towns Competition. Thank you for the wonderful welcome you have given me here today.
It has already been pointed out to me that there seems to be somewhat unusual connection between success in this Competition, and success on the sports pitch. In 1999, Clonakility matched their county’s hurling success in the All-Ireland with a winning performance in the Tidy Towns Competition. And of course, never a county to be outshone by your neighbours, the people of Kenmare picked the millennium year to match the Kerry football teams’ outstanding performance in the All-Ireland with an equally impressive win in this Competition. Given the number of occasions in the past that Sam Maguire has been brought back to Kerry, I suspect that other Tidy Towns entrants will be hoping it’s a trend that doesn’t continue.
Few places in Ireland have the advantage of such beautiful natural surroundings as Kenmare. Your stunning scenery is a great resource but on its own it is not a guarantee of success in the Tidy Towns Competition. Credit for that goes to the community whose pride in Kenmare has ensured that it is possible to create a pleasant environment of the highest standard, in parallel with the expansion in tourism. Achieving that balance isn’t easy and it certainly does not happen by accident or by doing nothing. It takes a strong community spirit, a willingness to get involved – to do the hard work and not just talk about what should be done. Kenmare is doubly lucky, not alone in its physical beauty but in its people with their commitment to community building, their leadership and their appetite for sheer hard work. I would like to pay tribute, in particular, to the officers and committee of the Tidy Towns Competition, who have galvanized the efforts and energy of the entire community. One man deserves special mention, and that of course, is Archdeacon Michael Murphy. In 1987, I understand he was instrumental in bringing victory in the competition to Sneem. Last year in Kenmare he proved he could do it again. I’m not 100% sure what weight the Tidy Towns Competition has in diocesan shakeups, but it’s clear you need to look after him in case he is headhunted by any rival parishes!
One of the most important gifts we can give our young people is an appreciation of their own community and of the responsibility we all share to preserve and contribute both to the spirit and environment of that community. Our young people are the future community builders and they are the future too of the Tidy Towns Competition. Here in Kenmare, I know that you have taken a farsighted approach in planning for the future with pupils in all five of your schools actively involved in An Taisce’s Green School Program. I congratulate all of you for doing so much to pass on to the next generation that same sense of pride in their home town that has been so instrumental in spurring you on to success in the 2000 Tidy Towns Competition.
The Department of the Environment and Local Government deserves praise for the energy and imagination with which they have promoted this Competition. A measure of their success is the fact that there are over 700 entrants annually, and while, as is always the case, they can’t all be winners, such widespread participation has made an enormous difference to the beauty of our towns and villages throughout the country. We take great pride in the work itself in the results of the work and of course Kenmare is entitled today to take special pride in being the best of the best. Congratulations again on your achievement.
Gúim gach rath agus séan oraibh san am atá le teacht.