REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION TO HER OF THE GOLDEN KEY OF MADRID
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION TO HER OF THE GOLDEN KEY OF MADRID BY MAYOR GALLARDÓN
Señor Alcalde
It is a great honour to accept from you, on the first day of my visit to Spain, the Golden Key of this great city of Madrid. I follow in the steps of countless thousands of Irishmen and Irishwomen who have been, and continue to be enchanted by the beauty of this city and warmly and generously welcomed by its people.
Spain, a country with which we enjoy close historical and cultural affinities, fires the Irish imagination. Madrid inspires in a very special way. An Irish writer, Kate O´Brien, who had a special love of Spain, wrote that “everything that is near Madrid is near my heart”. I cannot but agree with that sentiment. As a frequent visitor to this country and to Madrid, I can personally attest to the empathy between us, to the warmth felt by Irish people towards Spain and its people. This special relationship was again demonstrated last year when your great victory in the World Cup and the subsequent scenes of joy and ecstasy from the Plaza de Cibeles were warmly applauded across Ireland.
Spain and its capital Madrid have in the past shown exceptional generosity towards Irish exiles seeking refuge from past wars of religion and colonization. The imprint of the Irish is clearly visible in the city, with Calle de los Irlandeses, Calle de Irlanda and of course Calle O´Donnell which is one of the city’s principal thoroughfares named after a former statesman and Prime Minister of Irish origin. His name reminds us that when one of the most illustrious Irish Chieftains, Red Hugh O´Donnell, arrived in Spain in the late 16th century to seek the assistance of the Spanish Crown, he remarked that he felt as if he was returning to his roots. Tomorrow, I’m very much looking forward to my visit to Alcala de Henares, site of the original Complutense University of Madrid and home to one of the Irish Colleges which were founded throughout Spain to provide educational opportunities to Irish exiles who were denied education at home. My visit to Alcala de Henares is intended as a gesture of respect and gratitude by the Irish people for that past assistance.
Madrid today is a dynamic and vibrant business centre, with a world-class infrastructure and transport system. In recent years, we have seen an increasing Irish commercial presence in this city. Despite the severity of the financial crisis which faces us, many of the elements which sustained Irish economic growth remain in place, particularly in the external sector. With a rapid improvement in our competiveness, Irish exports provide the basis for future growth. We are determined to build our share of the Spanish market but also to work actively with Spanish multi-national companies, mostly based in Madrid, which have become world leaders in sectors such as telecommunications, financial services, infrastructure and renewable energy. I am pleased to be accompanied on this visit by the CEOs of the Irish State Agencies responsible for trade promotion, investment, tourism and food. There is also an active Spanish-Irish Business Network based in Madrid, but with a reach across Spain, which is working to bring our business communities closer together.
Senor Alcalde,
I wish to express my particular appreciation at the honour you have shown to Ireland and to our national day, St Patrick´s Day, by permitting for the first time ever the greening of the Puerta de Alcala, one of the city’s iconic monuments. What a joyful way to express the warmth and friendship that exists between our countries and our cities. I look forward this evening to seeing this splendid monument bathed once again in green.
I conclude by thanking you for the great honour you have bestowed on me and on Ireland today.
Viva Madrid!
Viva España!