Remarks by President McAleese on the occasion of the Official Opening of Sligo Folk Park, Riverstown
Remarks by President McAleese on the occasion of the Official Opening of Sligo Folk Park, Riverstown, Co. Sligo
Tá lúcháir orm bheith anseo libh inniu ag an ócáid seo agus ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl díbh as an chuireadh.
I have great pleasure in being here today in Riverstown to perform the official opening of the Sligo Folk Park and I would like to thank Chairman, John Taylor and the members of the Committee of Riverstown Enterprise Development for their kind invitation.
One of the most important developments in recent years for rural communities has been the introduction of local development programmes. Over the past eleven years, we have seen the tremendous success of partnership at national and local level – both in terms of economic and social development – profoundly impacting in communities, in towns, cities and villages throughout the country. All over Ireland, local communities are showing that they are willing to take up the challenge to shape their lives and reshape them, to make life better. All they need is encouragement and support, a little funding, and assistance in building up skills, confidence and experience. This is where the committee of Riverstown Enterprise Development came into its own, undertaking the daunting task of preparing a comprehensive action plan for the locality. Working hand in hand with the business, agricultural and professional sectors, together with the community in Riverstown and surrounding areas, you worked hard and with great commitment and determination to enhance the unique characteristics of your environment and to provide employment to local people.
It is said that Committee work is like a soft chair – easy to get into, but hard to get out of. I am certain that there have been times over the past ten years that your hard work often felt like that soft chair – so easy at first to get involved, but as the years slipped by the task engaged upon must have seemed endless. Your journey together over the past decade has been a journey of discovery, of what can be achieved through dedication, vision and resourcefulness. It’s been, if you like, an awakening of people; of groups and whole communities, to what they can do for themselves. Surely, what we have seen today must provide inspiration to many others to take action; to look to their own communities and resources and to come together with others of like mind and an equal sense of community, to work in partnership to bring about an improvement to their quality of life.
But of course the partnership approach is not in itself a new concept for Ireland – because in many ways it has been an integral feature of Irish life for neighbour to help neighbour - and friend to help friend - especially at times when an extra pair of hands were needed. Today not only are “willing hands” welcome, but also are open and creative minds with new ideas, to help and support communities as they come together to harness their strengths and talents for the good of all. This new spirit in Ireland – this “can do” philosophy – is bringing us to new levels of achievement, and is a spirit which will stand us in good stead, to help communities around the country face the constant ebb and flow of the tide of economic change in the years ahead. We need to be a strong and resilient people and you have made your own place, your own people strong, skilled, successful, imaginative and resilient.
Your project is the culmination of ten years of toil by Riverstown and its local communities. You have provided a wonderful amenity that will give pleasure to people today and for generations to come. You have also marked a new chapter in the rich historical heritage of the area. As I travel around this Island we call home, it is gratifying to see how so many small communities have discovered that quality heritage conservation and display enterprises, such as the restoration of Millview House, the headquarters of an Agricultural Museum and Heritage Park, can result in very real benefits to local tourism. And this beautiful public park, complementing so well the natural landscape, will certainly enhance the lives of the people of this area, and indeed its visitors.
Successful projects such as this one would so often not have been possible to bring to fruition without the support, guidance and encouragement at European, State and local level – the LEADER programmes, the International Fund for Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards, Sligo County Council as well as local business and social interests. It is a tribute to many many people that this project has been made a reality, a wonderful place of enjoyment for everyone. Great credit is due to everyone who played their part in its design, planning and completion. It is a job well done.
It only remains for me to thank you for your warm welcome to me today and to declare Sligo Folk Park officially open. I hope that the sense of community that is so evident here now will prevail and grow for many days and years to come.
Mo bhuíochas libh arís. Guím Rath Dé oraibh go léir sna blianta atá romhaibh.