ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, MARY ROBINSON, AT THE RECEPTION HOSTED BY HER IN CANBERRA
27 OCTOBER, 1992
I am delighted to be in Canberra as President of Ireland and to meet here with representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Irish Community and the many friends of Ireland who have gathered this evening in Australia's capital city. I am deeply honoured to have received such a warm and genuine welcome. I am impressed by this modern city and laud the foresight of the urban planners and Federal politicians in giving Australia a capital it can be very proud of.
There are of course many historical links between our two countries and this is something we are reminded of here in Canberra, an area rich in Irish connections right back to the earliest European settlement on the Limestone Plains of New South Wales. Much of the land which forms the centre of modern Canberra was first farmed by Terence Murray who came from County Limerick. Murray was the original owner of the house in Yarralumla now rebuilt and better known as the Governor General's residence. His brother, Dr. James Murray, also settled here and bestowed the name Woden on his property which of course is one of the city's main suburban centres today. At least three of the city's suburbs are named after Irish men, Duffy after Sir Charles Gavan-Duffy, Torrens after Corkman Robert Torrens and Hackett after Sir John Hackett from Bray, County Wicklow. I should point out that Torrens and Hackett were graduates of Trinity College Dublin, my own Alma Mater. This emphasises the tremendous contribution that Irish people and in particular Trinity College made to the development of Australia.
On my election as President of Ireland I said I envisaged my primary role to be that of representing the State. I would also like, however, to link with the Irish people in a broader sense. This involves looking beyond the State, as so many thousands of Irish people have settled outside of the country - in various parts of Australia, for example, - over many years now. I would like, as President, to be able to give recognition to this extended Irish family and to make links with it.
The Irish abroad are a resource that Ireland should husband wisely. The Irish diaspora is now a world wide network. It is estimated that half of the people born in Ireland since 1820 emigrated and this has given rise to the countless millions of people throughout the world who can trace their ancestry back to Ireland. I would like as President of Ireland to encourage them to discover the rich heritage that can and should be part of their inheritance also.
Today Ireland is engaged wholeheartly in the process of strengthening European integration. We are part of the new Europe in an enthusiastic and vigorous manner. Ireland is an ancient country with its own unique culture, values and traditions. We will of course continue to cherish those parts of our national character which enrich us as a nation. We have not lost anything in our new relationship with our European partners and we will continue to build on our relationships in Europe and do so with a keen appreciation of our history and our own sense of identity. This means we will continue to maintain very close relations with our traditional friends like Australia who are part of our own culture and background.
Today we are here in Canberra which has for many generations been a home for Irish people. In conclusion I would like to quote the Irish-Australian writer, John O'Brien, who was born and raised in the nearby town of Yass. John O'Brien was probably Australia's most popular poet and here in Australia's capital I salute the region with his words:-
"Oh stick me in the old caboose this night of wind and rain,
And let the doves of fancy loose to bill and coo again.
I want to feel the pulse of love that warmed the blood like wine,
I want to see the smile above this kind old land of mine.
Gura míle maith agaibh go léir.