Speeches
Remarks by President McAleese at a Senior Citizens Reception, Áras an Uachtaráin, 21st April 2010
Dia dhíbh go léir a chairde, is cúis mhór áthais duinn fáilte a chur romhaibh go léir chuig Áras an Uachtaráin inniu. It's wonderful to have you here and Martin joins me in extending a heartfelt 'céad mile fáilte' to each of you this afternoon. Some of you have come a long way to be with us – we have groups from county Limerick, north Sligo and Clonakilty, some have had slightly shorter distances from Arklow, Maynooth and Oldcastle, and of course we also welcome guests from Churchtown and the neighbours from Castleknock. You are all very welcome and we hope that you will feel the journey was worthwhile.This is a day for saying thank you to the generations which dug the wells from which we drink. The Ireland you grew up in was a place struggling with poverty, emigration and lack of opportunity. It did not have free second level never mind free third level education and these things, these realities shaped your lives profoundly. It was your unstinting hard work, your commitment, your sacrifices during lean times which built the cornerstone of today's Ireland which, for all its current economic mess, is among the world's more advanced and prosperous democracies. Your resilience and resourcefulness are badly needed today as we try to recover our reputation and our dynamism. You have been through many of life's difficulties and you have a lot to teach the younger generations about getting stuck in and getting through, working with each other and for each other. Good friends and good support can shorten any long journey and lighten any heavy load. That is what your associations are all about – they are places of friendship and fun, of solidarity and active support. I hope today you will take the opportunity to make new friends and to enjoy this house, its hospitality and its history.
On your behalf, I would like to extend a special thanks to our wonderful tenor Aaron Cawley and his accompanying pianist Robert Alderton. I'd also like to thank the Civil Defence, the Áras team who are working so hard to make this day enjoyable and memorable for you. Thank you all for being here, and for all you do to keep each other full of joy in life. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
