Remarks at the opening of Castle Saunderson All Ireland Scouting Jamboree Centre
Cavan, 23rd August 2012
A Chairde go léir, Ladies and Gentlemen, Ministers,
Tá áthas an domhain orm bheith anseo inniu chun an t-ionad campála agus eachtraíochta a oscailt go hoifigiúil ag Caisleán Shandarsan. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an tUasal Jack Keyes, Bainisteoir Contae, Comhairle Contae an Chabháin agus an tUasal Michael John Shinnick, Príomh-Ghasóg, Scouting Ireland as a gcuireadh cineálta a thug siad dom agus gabhaim buíochas mór libhse anseo inniu freisin.
I am delighted to be here today to officially open this unique adventure and camping facility here at Castle Saunderson. I would like to thank Jack Keyes, County Manager, Cavan County Council and Michael John Shinnick, Chief Scout, Scouting Ireland for their kind invitation to me to join with you all today in this celebration and all of you for that wonderful welcome.
When I was inaugurated as President of Ireland I spoke of the importance of building together an active, inclusive citizenship; based on participation, equality, respect for all and the flowering of creativity in all its forms. Today we are truly looking to the future at this jamboree of younger citizens; those who will be the leaders, the decision makers and the creative thinkers of the Ireland in which our children and grandchildren will live and grow and hopefully leave their own unique footprint.
Already these young people are being given the best chance possible to become the type of citizens who will make Ireland proud and who will play a dynamic role in building a real and inclusive republic in its fullest sense.
Becoming a member of the scouting movement is, of course, partly about having fun and mixing with people of your own age. But it is also about something even bigger and better than that; it is about allowing and enabling our young people to learn about life beyond their immediate horizons; to recognise and fully develop their potential and talents; and to understand the importance of being proactive and productive members of a team. It is a chance to learn and nurture the skill of collaboration and the ethics of friendship. Scouting also offers the opportunity to make new friends from diverse backgrounds and cultures, making it a real force for peace and harmony between peoples.
There is no doubt that Ireland is at a crucial turning point in its history. Young people face an uncertain future and people all over are hurting from the recession. But, far from being defeated by circumstances they are, for the most part, moving on, getting stuck into what they can do and are good at.
They are setting about finding a better version of Irishness than the individualism that drove the worst aspects of the so called Celtic Tiger; reaffirming the old decencies in Irish life and drawing on the ethical values that are being forged by talented and energetic people of all generations.
We must never forget that our younger generation will be an important part of our journey back to economic success and will play a key role in shaping our future, a future that we hope will be one of inclusion, of respect for every citizen and of celebrating all of our possibilities.
Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go dtabharfaimid spreagadh agus misneach d’aos óg an lae inniu a gcuid scileanna a fhorbairt ionas gur féidir leo dul i ngleic le dúshláin agus féidearthachtaí an domhain mhóir.
It is important that we nurture that generation, encourage them to develop and share their skills and talents and open up to them a world rich with challenges and possibilities.
The transformation of Ireland needs the commitment and contribution of people of all ages and the passion, the innovation and vision that young people in particular can bring. At the end of May this year I launched ‘Being Young and Irish’, the first in a series of seminars that I will be running throughout my Presidency, aimed at shaping Ireland’s shared future and opening a discussion on the kind of country that we want to create and on how we can contribute to that transformation.
I would invite any of you here today who are aged between 17 and 26 to take this opportunity to play a part in crafting the Ireland of the future by taking part and sharing your views. There is a workshop scheduled for 22 Sept in Monaghan – You can find out more on by going to the Áras an Uachtaráin website at www.president.ie,
Today is, of course, also an important milestone for Irish Scouting, a day when we see the fruits of much vision and valuable work by many dedicated people north and south of the border. Today we celebrate the designation of Castle Saunderson as a World Peace Centre through the World Scout Foundations “Messengers of Peace” programme, one of just five centres in the world.
I know that cooperation in youth work in both parts of Ireland, North and South, has grown much stronger in recent years and this facility will build on that, providing many opportunities to explore further the practice and the potential of youth work throughout the island of Ireland and beyond.
Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le gach duine anseo inniu a chuir go mór leis an togra seo. Mar fhianaise ar bhur tréan-iarrachtaí ar son na ngasóg in Eirinn tá eagraíocht bríomhar anois againn, eagraíocht a chuireann go mór le saol an duine óig sa domhain sa lá atá inniu ann.
I would like to congratulate everyone here today who has been involved in this project. This achievement is further evidence of your commitment to the scouting movement and its objectives, and from what I have seen so far, it is a movement that is passionate and enthusiastic about bringing about change to the world and in the lives of all the young people in scouting.
I would like to conclude by wishing you well with your endeavors and I look forward to seeing the fruits of this undertaking.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh go leir.