Remarks at a reception for the Irish Community
Santiago, Chile, 5th October 2012
Señoras y Señores
Don James McIntyre, Embajador de Irlanda a Chile
Don Leonel Searle, Embajador de la Republic de Chile a Irlanda
Consul Honorario General Miguel Aylwin, y su esposo Pamela
Miembros del Cuerpo Diplomático
Distinguidos Invitados
A Ghael agus Cairde na nGael.
Míle buíochas as an bhfáilte caoin, croíuil dom féin and me bhean cheile, Sabina.
Estoy encantado de estar de otra vez en Chile. Muchas gracias a todos ustedes por su presencia aquí esta noche. Gracias por la cálida bienvenida que nos han brindado a mi esposa Sabina y yo.
[I am delighted to be here again in Chile. Many thanks to you all for your presence here this evening. Thank you for the warm welcome that you have extended to my wife Sabina and I.]
I am delighted to be here with you this evening as President of Ireland in this beautiful city of Santiago.
I am also delighted to have had the chance to hear one of Ireland’s finest musicians, Mícheál O’Rourke, entertain us this evening in the Gabriela Mistral Auditorium, a space in the heart of Santiago dedicated to art and culture as a means of discovery and social transformation. Many thanks Mícheál for joining us and adding to the sense of celebration.
Yesterday evening, at the official dinner hosted by President Pinera, I told the story of the Irish poem “An Long” – “The Ship” – and its protagonist who feels the lure of the ship calling him to Valparaíso – ‘Sunlit countries far away’ – but who finally decides to stay at home in Ireland with his poetry and his books.
To those of you this evening who so clearly did hear the ship’s call to journey to the bright city in the Andes and have made your home in this beautiful country, I extend a particular welcome to this evening’s gathering.
For many years, I too have felt a strong draw to this sunlit country ‘far away’ from Ireland. I have studied your rich history and followed closely the developments of the last few decades as they have unfolded. My visit earlier today to the Museum of Memory and Human Rights moved me deeply as I recalled the tragedy of lives lost and shattered but, woven in with my memories of those dark past days, were my recollections of the dignity, energy and hope that I encountered when I first visited Chile in 1988 as part of a parliamentary delegation to observe the Presidential Plebiscite.
It is a great privilege to return again to Chile some 25 years later and to witness that this dignity, energy and hope continues to pulse through this country. Chile’s defence and development of democracy in new conditions is important for the people of this country, but it also has a resonance far beyond your borders. Your embrace of vibrant democracy supports social inclusion, a dynamic economy and a tourism industry that attracts people from all over the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Yesterday, I visited Plaza O’Higgins. I was honoured to lay a wreath at the crypt of El Libertador, Bernardo O’Higgins and pause for a moment to remember his contribution to Chilean freedom and independence. As many in this room appreciate, the links between our two countries and peoples stretch back centuries. Other founding figures of Chile with Irish connections include Juan MacKenna, writer and political figure in Chilean society and of course George O’Brien, one of the founders of the Chilean navy. Even looking at a map of Santiago and seeing the names O’Connell, O’Brien and others, it is clear that Irish people have had a long history in this country.
Our people to people contacts have continued over the years. I would like to acknowledge in particular the contribution which Irish women and men, secular as well as religious, have made down through the years to the societies and neighbourhoods in which they have settled. Some of you are present here this evening. You are part of a proud tradition of Irish people who have worked far from home to support the development of other nations through engagement in areas that are crucial to just and sustainable development such as education, health and social inclusion. In so doing, you have made a key contribution to building our inter-connected community of nations. You have matched your ideals with your deeds and I thank you for that.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In recognition of the significance of our bilateral relations, an Irish Naval Service vessel, the L.E. Niamh, visited Chile in June 2010. This visit – the first ever undertaken by an Irish Service vessel to Chile – provided the people of Ireland with the opportunity to honour and celebrate Chile’s Bicentennial year.
On that trip the L.E Niamh also carried medical supplies provided by Irish people as part of the international assistance effort following the terrible earthquake of February 2010.
It saddened me deeply at the time to see this beautiful country suffer such immense destruction. I have been looking forward to learning more about the reconstruction process and it has been impressive to see how swiftly this has been achieved, and equally to witness the hope and determination with which people faced that adversity.
It was equally impressive to witness the resources of political leadership, personal resilience, community cohesion and state of the art technology that were mobilised to rescue 33 Chilean miners after their 69 days entrapment in 2010. Their rescue, which was seen by a global audience, was a wonderful symbol of hope and courage for the entire world. I am very proud that an Irish company called Mincon, which produced the reverse circulation drill that helped gain access to the miners, was part of this uplifting story of human resolve and solidarity.
Today, while we celebrate the many personal, historical and cultural ties which link us, we look forward to connections being deepened in other areas, including across trade and business connections. I am very pleased to be joined on this visit by the Irish Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D. who is with us this evening. He is, I know, availing fully of this time in Chile to see how we can build on the trading relationships and contacts already in place and to explore how we can promote these further.
The growth in our trade and business relationships reminds us that Ireland and our people are resilient throughout history. While the serious and daunting false economic booms of recent times have left us with new challenges, we also have the capacity to build a new version of our economy and we remain determined to move forward and to create a better future for ourselves and our children. We are currently experiencing an immense flowering in creativity in all its aspects, not just our art and literature, but also in the sciences, in the development of new computing and technology applications, and in leading edge enterprise. In all these exciting developments we see Chile as a promising partner for further cooperation and contacts and welcome the Irish – Chilean community as an important partner in developing that cooperation.
Muchos de los hoy aquí presentes se han comprometido, tal como lo hicieron aquellos inmigrantes irlandeses que los precedieron, a hacer de Chile su hogar; han aprendido el idioma, formado sus familias aquí y establecido una colectividad irlandesa-chilena. Se sienten cómodos moviéndose entre las dos culturas y las afinidades de su legado, pero manteniendo el orgullo de ser irlandeses.
[Many of you here this evening have committed, as so many Irish emigrants before you, to making Chile your home; you have learned the language, reared your families here and established a community of Irish-Chileans, comfortable to move between two cultures and affinities of heritage but remaining proudly Irish].
I opened my remarks by referring to the lure of this sunlit country which has brought many of you here. May I close by promoting the lure of another journey, this time to Ireland. Though I can offer no guarantees of sun light, I can assure of you a warm welcome.
Next year in 2013, Ireland is hosting the Gathering, a year-long festival of Irish culture and heritage that encourages Irish people or friends of Ireland to return home, to your towns and parishes of origin, to join in the celebrations. Tourism Ireland is turning this wonderful idea into reality and I am happy to support their efforts. In view of our long standing and close relations with Chile, it is our hope that Chileans will participate in the Gathering and yet again celebrate and renew our deep and binding ties. We hope to see you in Ireland in 2013.
Before I close,I would like to pay a tribute to Ireland’s
Honorary Consul General in Chile, Mr. Miguel Aylwin.
Miguel has served in this role for over 12 years, helping citizens and businesses find their feet in Chile. I would particularly like to mention his consular assistance role. We are delighted with the increase in tourism and visits from Ireland to Chile over the last decade, but it has brought with it an increase in the calls for help to Miguel’s office. We know our citizens in distress always meet an efficient response and a sympathetic ear and we are very grateful for that.
I also wish to avail of this opportunity to thank Ambassador McIntyre and his team for all their great support during my visit, as well as the Chilean Ambassador to Ireland, Don Leonel Searle, who has been so helpful.
Let me just say again what an honour it is to be part of this event tonight, to see a vibrant, connected and growing Irish community joining together to welcome us.
Quisiera decirles otra vez muchísmas gracias.
[Once again, many thanks]
Go n-eirí an bóthar róimh. Go raibh míle maith agaibh y muchísimas gracias