REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE UNVEILING OF A PLAQUE CELEBRATING CARRICK-ON-SHANNON’S WIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE UNVEILING OF A PLAQUE CELEBRATING CARRICK-ON-SHANNON’S GOLD MEDAL WIN
Dia dhíbh a chairde agus, – Comhgháirdeachas mór le Cora Droma Rúisc. Congratulations to Carrick-on-Shannon as we gather to unveil a plaque celebrating the magnificent win of a Gold Medal in the prestigious European Entente Florale Competition. If ever a town deserved an award for sheer grit and determination it is surely Carrick-on-Shannon for it has been some incredible journey from the devastating floods of this time last year to this day of spectacular triumph. We saw heroism and sacrifice here on a grand scale a year ago. We saw huge loss and personal suffering as homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged and then we saw the flowers bloom and the words of Camus came to me time and again as Martin and I drove in and out of Carrick - “In the depths of winter, I discovered in me an invincible summer.” This community, indomitable, ambitious and unbowed set itself a task that seemed improbable to create that invincible summer, to restore confidence, to showcase the beauty of the place and the strength of its people.
You cannot win Gold at the Entente without mobilizing an army of volunteers and sponsors as the Tidy Towns committee did here so brilliantly. The town stepped up to the challenge with residents, groups and businesses pulling together the effort and the resources that so impressed the judges when they visited last summer. It was hard to believe that the same town that had been under water a few months earlier was representing Ireland in Cervia, Italy at the end of September along with that other beautiful town of Emly. Not only was Carrick’s great natural beauty restored but its amenities were elegantly enhanced and with flowers in profusion everywhere it was a sheer joy to visit and to bring visitors to as we did regularly.
So this day belongs to the people and the partnership that really got behind the project and refused to settle for anything less than Gold. The County Council were also central to the success. A great Leitrim County Council team led by County Manager, Jackie Maguire was also pivotal to the success of this project. Knowing and loving this gracious Shannonside town above all others as I have for almost sixty years now, I can say it has never, ever looked better or been a better place to live or to visit.
Carrick’s success stands this day as a metaphor for Ireland itself, faced as we are with tough economic times the message from Carrick-on-Shannon is “come-on-Ireland” when we work together we can work miracles. Thank you Carrick for daring to believe in yourselves with such passion. I am so proud. This town will have not simply a plaque that is an enduring reminder of its success in the European Entente Florale 2010 but a plaque that is testimony to its resilience, its imagination and its spirit of meitheal.
Enjoy the day - you have earned it the hard way.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir.