ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON HER VISIT TO DONEGAL CASTLE
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON HER VISIT TO DONEGAL CASTLE DONEGAL TOWN ON SATURDAY, 18 APRIL 1998
I want to thank you all for the very warm welcome you have given me this afternoon, and I’d like to particularly thank Paddy Meehan, the Honorary Mayor of Donegal Town, for inviting me to see this wonderfully restored piece of Donegal history – the former home of the O’Donnell clan – the great Chieftains of Tirconaill – and later the home of the Brooke family – whose long association with the province of Ulster was in more recent years highlighted by Peter Brooke who served as an excellent Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
One of that great O’Donnell clan – Red Hugh – visited a Castle with which I am connected – Dublin Castle – although in much different circumstances. For me, my inauguration as President was an event for which I was very happy to be driven to Dublin Castle – and with a full military escort. For Red Hugh O’Donnell, however, legend has it that he wasn’t there of his own free will – and had to make ‘special arrangements’ to leave. I’ve no doubt he did so without the need or wish for a military escort!
Touring the castle today gives you a great sense of the old Gaelic Ireland – an Ireland rich in culture and tradition – an Ireland that left an enormous legacy on the old Europe – an Ireland that was a European centre of learning and Christian faith. One of Donegal’s own sons – Colmcille – brought Christianity to the Western Isles of Scotland and is today revered there as the patron of their faith. In the Western Isles they also speak the same native tongue that is spoken here in Co. Donegal – further highlighting the links of clan and tradition between the peoples of these islands.
The tremendous work of restoration on the Castle is a tribute to the sensitive and professional work of the Office of Public Works who do such a painstaking – yet often unsung - job of restoration and preservation on Ireland’s heritage buildings. The legacy of great architecture stretching back to the ancient and even pre-history eras – makes this a unique place – a place which has soul and spirit – a place where history and it’s marks can be readily seen. It is a great tribute to the Office of Public works that we have such a collection of fine buildings rescued from the ravages of time and the environment and preserved as monuments to our past.
In buildings like Donegal Castle, we can understand and value the old order – we can put it into it’s rightful context as a time that has gone – we can appreciate that history is not all about banquets and battles but about ordinary people leading ordinary lives and coping with the problems of survival. In understanding and appreciating the episodes and events of history - we can move forward and build on its chequered foundation in a spirit of openness and embrace.
Donegal Castle will prove to be a great asset to the Town and, indeed, the county of Donegal. It gives access to our history and confidence in our future through our generous respect for the past and care for the legacy to future generations. I would like to congratulate all of those who were involved in its restoration – including the local craftsmen – who worked to restore the Tower House to its former glory.