REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF A RECEPTION AT ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF A RECEPTION AT ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN FOR ISLAND COMMUNITIES, NORTH AND SOUTH
Is mór an onóir domsa inniú Céad Míle Fáilte a chur roimh Oileánaigh ó cheann cheann na tíre chuig Áras an Uachtaráin. Tuigim go maith gur dhein cuid agaibh turas fada le bheith linn inniú. Tá áthas orm go bhfuil sibh anseo inár measc agus tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as bhur gcuairt ar Áras an Uachtaráin.
Níl aon amhras ach gur chuir agus go gcuireann na hÓileáin go mór le saol na tíre seo. In ainneoin na ndeacrachtaí móra a chruthaíonn suíomh imeallach na nOileán, ghlac an pobal sin páirt ghníomhach i dtéarmaí cultúir, staire agus teanga i saol na hÉireann thar na blianta. Go deimhin is iontach an liosta de laochra na litríochta agus ealaíne a fáisceadh as na hOileáin ar chósta na hÉireann thar na blianta. Chuala muid uilig faoi litríocht an Bhlascóid, scríobhnóirí Árann agus ar ndoigh an talann atá faoi bhláth aran Oileán Thóraigh inniu gan ach cúpla ceann a lua. Is ceiliúradh an ócáid seo inniú den chultúr agus den oidhreacht bheo speisialta sin atá ar Oileáin na hÉireann inniú.
It is a great honour for me to welcome Island Communities, North and South, to Áras an Uachtaráin this afternoon. I would particularly like to welcome our guests from Rathlin Island, which has, of course, historic links with both Ireland and Scotland and therefore symbolises in a very real way the interwoven history, culture and human relationships that have enriched these two larger islands. I am well aware that many of you have travelled long distances from your Island homes to be here today and I am therefore delighted to wish you a heartfelt Céad Míle Fáilte.
Down through the years Island Communities have contributed in no small way to the life of this country – in cultural, historic, artistic and of course linguistic terms. Each island has a unique inheritance and atmosphere, a very strong sense of community, as recalled by the great poet Máirtín Ó Díreáin, who wrote of his native Inis Mór:
“Faoiseach a gheobhadsa
seal beag gairid
i measc mo dhaoine
ar Oileán Mara
ag siúl cois cladaigh
Maidin is tráthnóna
ó Lúain go Sathairn
thiar ag baile”.
It is no accident that many of the early Christian hermits established settlements on the islands of Ireland, recognising there a very special sense of connection with God and with the natural world, free from the distractions of life elsewhere. And of course, that rich vein of spirituality has been one of the hallmarks of island life over the centuries, a source of hope and comfort in harsh times, especially when loved ones were lost to the sea.
Another great characteristic of island life, past and present, are the vibrant cultural traditions which have attracted admiration far and wide – from storytelling to music and dance, literature to painting. Often, it took a stranger’s eye and ear to recognise the unique value of those traditions or to encourage the innate artistic talents of so many islanders. Those talents found particular expression, of course, in the written word, through poetry, prose and autobiography. But in more recent years, the visual arts have also flourished. I would like to pay particular tribute to Dr Derek Hill, who sadly passed away during the Summer, and who will be fondly remembered not only for his work in recognising and encouraging the talents of painters on Tory Island, but also for his great kindness and friendship towards so many islanders over the decades.
Peter Somerville-Large has written of the islands of Ireland that ‘each was home to a tribe that was really a small nation’ – and of course, to this day, Tory has its own King – there doesn’t seem to be any sign of it moving over to the Presidential system!. We have all benefited from the cultural richness and diversity which have been generated by that sense of separateness. But nobody here needs to be told that such riches exact their own toll. Island life has also always had its darker, more difficult side. Isolation and loneliness, lack of opportunity and services, all contributed to a decline - sometimes even a complete loss of population - on many islands as their people, young and old, left to find an easier life on the mainland or overseas.
It is a tribute to the determination and commitment of so many island people – and especially so many women - that they refused to give up in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds or accept that island life was to be a thing of the past. Through organisations such as Comhdháil Náisiúnta na hÉireann, and in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, other Government Departments and local authorities, many islands are securing their future through better air and sea links, more employment opportunities and greater access to services, especially harnessing the new computer based technologies. I know that much work still needs to be done, but it is wonderful to hear so many stories of hope emerging from our islands – not least the fact that Inisturk recently played host to its first wedding in 36 years. I remember too how amazing it was to be in the Cooperative on Inis Meain and see them order alpaca wool from South America over the Internet. Today’s technologies, properly harnessed are bringing new hope and opportunities to the islands and their people.
This is a day for celebrating those successes and hopes and looking forward to many more. I hope that you all have a wonderful afternoon here today, in the company of our musicians: the Cloughmore Male Voice Choir, who greeted you on your arrival, and here in this room, the Inishbofin Céilí Band.
Mar chríoch ba mhaith liom a rá arís go bhfuil an-athas orm go bhfuil ár gcáirde ó na hoileáin amach ón gcósta linn inniu. Tá súil agam go dtabharfaidh Dia slán abhaile sibh agus go mbeidh deis agam bualadh libh arís go luath.