Remarks during Final Visit to Cork, Monday 10th October, 2011
Cork, Monday 10th October, 2011
Lord Mayor, President Murphy, Ladies and Gentlemen
Tá an-athás orm bheith anseo i bhur measc inniú.
Thank you for that typically warm Cork welcome on this my last visit as President to the city that prides itself on being the “Real Capital.” I have come here often to this former European Capital of Culture and every time it has been to marvel at the sheer energy that infuses every aspect of civic life here, where cultural life, community life, sporting life are all so rich and diverse, intensely local one minute or just as comfortably national and international the next. This gallery a joy when it opened in 2004, a symbol of national resilience when it reopened in 2009 after those horrendous floods. The Frank O’Connor international short story award is now recognised as the single biggest prize for a short story collection in the entire world. The Cork School of Music became the first fully purpose-built school of music in Ireland, your choral, jazz and film festivals draw audiences from over the world, your footballers make my County Down weep, your fishmonger made Queen Elizabeth laugh. Who could ever forget the way Cork welcomed Her Majesty on that history changing first State Visit to Ireland by a British monarch. You showcased Ireland’s legendary warm welcome at its best and Ireland was so proud of Cork that day.
Today I am here for another unique occasion. The Book of Lismore which started life here in Co. Cork and later emigrated to Great Britain has made a welcome return visit to its native home, reminding us in a powerfully symbolic and practical way of the history Ireland and Britain share and our very different but complementary cultures. It is a reminder too that the once fraught relations between us have given way to a good neighbourliness and mutual generosity of spirit and esteem that augurs well for the future.
I am very grateful to Dr Michael Murphy for his invitation and I am delighted to see Fiona Kearney who always makes me feel so very welcome. But I am above all delighted to be once again in the company of a remarkable woman Loretta Brennan Glucksman, whose fidelity to Ireland’s wellbeing, whose trojan work on behalf of our peace and our prosperity leaves us so deeply in her debt.
Through you Lord Mayor, I thank the people of Cork for their gracious hospitality and their many kindnesses to me over these last 14 years. I have a full store of memories from this city and county enough to last a very long and happy retirement. Thank you and may Cork flourish to her fullest potential despite these difficult times and because of her people’s own determination and genius.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.