ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE CARRICK-ON-SHANNON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DINNER
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE CARRICK-ON-SHANNON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DINNER ON 27 MARCH 1998
I spent my 46th summer in the Carrick area last year - travelling here over five decades I have seen the changes and been fascinated by the pace of change – the buzz and energy on the river, on the streets and roads – the West awoke and the alarm went off in Carrick first! I’d like to thank you all for the very warm welcome this evening to the Chamber of Commerce dinner. Earlier, I was ‘officially’ welcomed to County Leitrim by the Cathaoirleach and members of Leitrim County Council, so I’m delighted to be ‘doubly welcomed’ in the one day to Carrick-on-Shannon.
In Irish terms Carrick is relatively young, having been ‘put on the map’ as a town by James the 1st in the early sixteen hundreds. But, quite clearly, it would not have survived without trade and commerce to sustain its population and keep it alive. The town has been both the administrative and trading centre for County Leitrim since at least early in the nineteenth century. I know, for instance, that in 1830, Charles Manners St. George erected the Market House and ‘shambles’ – now known as the Market Yard – and that in the first half of the nineteenth century there was a trade in “course linen druggets, frieze and coarse flannel”. Incidentally, I was relieved to discover that a ‘shambles’ is something to do with the meat trade – and I know from experience that is not a reflection on the quality of butcher shops in Carrick! Later, when the Grand Canal Company was in existence, Carrick was a major depot for river trade – in timber, cement, hardware, and especially Guinness Stout – again, I can’t think why that particular commodity was emphasised to me!
Like all towns and indeed cities in Ireland, Carrick has been at the mercy of prevailing economic conditions. The depressions that have been a cyclical part of life in Ireland since the days of the Great Famine have seen countless numbers of people leaving in search of a livelihood or even a basic existence. Only in recent decades, particularly the last ten years, have we seen a reversal of that trend of hemorrhage and, with the benefit of an educated, eager and self-confident young workforce, have we been able to shake off that mantle of isolation and depression which for far too long held us back.
This great surge that has taken place is due to the imaginative and dedicated work of our commercial, industrial, educational and political sectors working in partnership to bring a high level of very welcome foreign investment to Ireland and to encourage native investment. There are today many projects which give us pride in our talents, and visible evidence of the success we are capable of - from the Shannon-Erne canal project to the Masonite plant close by - each of which in turn has given rise to further spin-off employment in the area.
Another factor in our success is our people - the combination of abilities, talents, skill, enthusiasm, confidence and boldness that you find in those who use the resources being made available – to harness the great potential that’s there – to build an economy that can give people a good quality of life - people with the confidence to play their part in the modern world of commerce, industry and the professions. Out of that culture came short lines of communication, a ‘can do’ ethos, a caring about the stranger we are befriending whose investment we want but whose friendship and loyalty we also want to cultivate.
My role this evening is really to give recognition to those who have been at the heart of our success – the people who have made this country what it is today. The time patriots who squeeze everything they can out of every 24 hours to build up home, parish, community, town, nation. But like the success itself, the people with talent and enthusiasm, the risk-takers, the builders of business and the captains of commerce – they didn’t just materialise over night or over a week-end. The story goes back decades to those who had the vision and foresight to realise what was needed to bring about this success story – to build the foundation in education and infrastructure on which the economy of today could be brought about.
The change that occurred in the Ireland of the 1950’s – a place where lack of opportunity had stifled many a talent leaving it still-born - until free education opened the floodgate of talent - is captured by Seamus Heaney, in his poem “From the Canton of Expectation”, where he talks about the “change of mood”, where “Young heads that might have dozed a life away against the flanks of milking cows were busy paving and pencilling their first causeways across the prescribed texts”
Those who were given access to education – who could finally attain the skills and learning to break out of an existence that looked in on itself – and perhaps there are many of you here this evening – they were the ones who started the quiet revolution in Ireland that has brought us to where we are now. When the barriers to education were removed by ground-breaking politicians and public servants with that great vision and foresight, they took off like greyhounds from the traps. Our success today could not have been accomplished without the commitment of men and women - in management, in leadership, in the workplace – in our unique partnership of unions, employers, farmers and Government - in all sectors of the economy. These are the people who transformed Ireland into a ‘can do’ culture – who gave it energy and vision, and whose judgement was rewarded with success. That success has built up our self-confidence – our national self-esteem – we are a people not afraid to adapt to change.
Without the quality of leadership that we have today, we would not be able to sustain the strong position that we are in. There is a professional discipline and commitment across all of the social sectors – people prepared to work long hours, to take risks, to hold their nerve, to work towards a vision. And in an ever changing global economy, where the sands are constantly shifting, the ability to respond to change - to turn the ship about if that’s what it takes - that is the key to survival and to success. In business change is the only constant. Advances in modern communications and the advent of the information superhighway have added to the pace of change and are profoundly impacting on the way businesses compete, and indeed co-operate.
The Chamber of Commerce has played a major part in the developing Irish economy, in fostering strategic links and in developing business and trade, based on those high standards of customer care. Investors don’t invest here just because we’re nice people. They come because we are adaptable, educated, dynamic, open – because we have a proven track record of success. But they stay and reinvest because we are a nice people – because this is a very pleasant place to do business. Why? Because our collective ethos is to work to build up our country, to spread the benefits of success to all our people. That is what drives us, not unredeemed greed and selfishness. We care about our country, its people, its children, their future. That is why you work so hard – not for reward or recognition or just profit. That is why I am pleased to thank you for all you are doing and have done and to celebrate with you tonight.