REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, MARY McALEESE AT THE RECEPTION HOSTED BY AMBASSADOR O HUIGINN
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, MARY McALEESE AT THE RECEPTION HOSTED BY AMBASSADOR O HUIGINN MARIA ISABEL SHERATON HOTEL
I am delighted to be here this evening. On behalf of my husband, Martin, Minister Ahern and Mrs. Ahern, Ambassador and Mrs O hUiginn and the entire Irish delegation, I would like to thank you all for coming here, and for giving us this wonderful opportunity to meet you, on this very historic occasion, the first ever State visit by an Irish President to Mexico.
As President of Ireland I have visited many countries around the world, and wherever I go I consider it a very special privilege to be able to meet the Irish, and to get to know their families and friends.
It is also a pleasure this evening to see so many friends of Ireland in Mexico, including of course, our Honorary Consul Romulo O’Farrill and his wife Hilda, the Ambassadors from many of our colleague European Union countries, and representatives from many walks of life in Mexico who have been so supportive of Ireland throughout the years. Many of you have not yet had a chance to get to know Ireland, but we hope you will all come to visit us soon and assure you of a very warm welcome when you do.
Since coming to Mexico, we have all been particularly struck by the enormous warmth of the welcome we have received. Wherever I have gone, and throughout my meetings with President Zedillo and other representatives of Mexico, again and again the natural affinity between our peoples, and the affection for Ireland, is clear. I know from the brief opportunity I have had to talk to you that the pride you take in being Irish. The care you have taken to represent and promote the very best of Ireland in this country over the years has in many ways paved the way for the great friendship and goodwill we have experienced since coming here. Each of you brings an image and experience of Ireland into the mainstream of Mexican society – each of you an official yet powerful ambassador for our culture, our values. We owe you a lot.
This week I have had an opportunity to learn a little about the magic that draws the Irish to this extraordinary country. In meeting you I am delighted to learn about the many diverse aspects of Mexico, as it is reflected in your lives here and your work. Earlier this evening I had the pleasure of meeting with many of you who so generously give of your time to those who are needy, particularly the nuns of the Holy Rosary of Killeshandra and the Medical Missionaries of Mary. Important work such as this has been undertaken by the Irish in many countries around the world, and we are very proud of this fine tradition.
I would also like in particular to mention the Irish Society of Mexico, which has provided a focal point and a home away from home for so many Irish in Mexico over the years. Tomorrow I will visit the monument to the San Patricio Battalion at San Angel, a group I have heard so much about over the years. I very much look forward to learning about the history of the Battalion from those of you who have promoted this wonderful story and kept the tradition alive year after year. I only regret that I will not be here on September 12th for your famous annual commemoration.
Tomorrow I will also have the opportunity to further develop links between the Mexican and Irish business worlds, and I would like to express my appreciation to the Irish European Chamber of Commerce and all the other participants who have contributed their time and expertise so generously to provide us with this opportunity.
Many of you have helped to promote Ireland in a myriad of other ways, from cultural exchanges to education and tourism, and I would like to thank all of you. I am particularly delighted to learn that new Irish organisations, like, for example, the Ireland Fund of Mexico, are developing apace and I know that you will all continue to support and encourage each other as you have done so well in the past.
In learning about you, I am particularly impressed by the fact that all of these initiatives are born of a spontaneous and genuine sense of the importance of promoting the relationship between Ireland and Mexico, rather than any obligation to do so. In spite of your busy lives, you give of your time and expertise on a volunteer basis. We in Ireland are deeply appreciative of this, and are delighted to have this small opportunity to thank you and offer our support.
To all of you, I extend my thanks and congratulations on keeping the spirit of all that is best in Ireland alive. May this tradition continue for many years to come.