Remarks at the Gathering Launch Event on Board L.É. Eithne
Liverpool, 22nd November 2012
A dhaoine uaisle, tá an-áthais orm bheith anseo libh inniu ar Long Éireann Eithne.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to be here today in Liverpool on board the L.É. Eithne. As some of you may know, all of the Irish Naval Service vessels are named after famous women from Irish mythology. The name Eithne was borne by many mythological characters, but the Eithne after whom this ship was named was the tragic heroine of an early Irish romantic tale.
While Eithne spent almost all of her life confined to a large castle on Tory Island off the
North Coast of Donegal, I think it is fitting that the vessel that takes her name has
travelled all around the world in her honour as the flagship of the Irish Naval Service.
To give just two examples of the L.É. Eithne’s extensive travels:
- In the summer of 1986 it became the first Irish Naval Service ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, sailing to the United States.
- In the autumn of 2006 it was the first Irish Naval Ship to cross the equator on a 12,000 nautical mile round trip to South America. She was invited to visit Argentina on that occasion to celebrate the anniversary of Admiral Brown,
a native of Co Mayo, who founded the Argentine Navy. Admiral Brown was
a member of the Irish community overseas who made his mark on history –
a theme that I will return to shortly.
This is the 2nd day in my three day visit to Liverpool and Manchester. Yesterday I
visitedLiverpool Town Hall, laid a wreath at the Great Hunger Memorial and later
delivered an address at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies on the
theme ‘Liverpool and its Irish Migrants’ in which I explored the centuries old
relationship between the Irish and this most Irish of British cities where it is said that up
to 50% of the population is of Irish origin. My visits to Liverpool and Manchester are part
of a commitment to make in my Presidency a real connection with the Irish wherever
they may be, and in whatever circumstances.
Where more appropriate in Britain to speak to you today about The Gathering than here
in Liverpool and symbolically on a sea-faring vessel just arrived from Ireland as countless
sons or daughters of Ireland arrived here before.
This is the formal launch of The Gathering in Liverpool. The Gathering, is a year-long
programme of events taking place all around Ireland, driven by arts, sports, business and
community groups and supported by the Government and tourism bodies.
It was launched overseas by Government Ministers to 17,000 contacts in 27 cities over
St Patrick’s Weekend this year, and then at home in Ireland by the Taoiseach,
Enda Kenny, in May in Dublin Castle.
A vital element of The Gathering initiative is connecting with the tens of millions of
people across the world who celebrate their Irish ancestral links – through extended
families, neighbours, Irish clubs and societies, cultural and sporting groups, and really all
those who organize events around their Irishness – and inviting them to come visit in
2013. Many of you here today are from the Irish community. An invitation is being
extended to you, that if you find it possible 2013 is a great year to return home, to visit
and be part of The Gathering.
I am very conscious however that there are many throughout the world for whom returning to Ireland next year, or perhaps any year in the foreseeable future, is but a dream, due maybe to financial considerations, citizenship status, or myriad other circumstances. I hope that they too will have opportunities to celebrate their Irishness, which is valuable to my Presidency, in the year ahead wherever in the world they may be, including here in Britain.
When one has been away from Ireland for a long time or never put your curiosity about Ireland to the test, 2013 is a good year and the Irish Government is making a special effort for 2013 with The Gathering. Besides reconnecting with family and friends, there are so many reasons to visit Ireland: to tread in the footsteps of some of the most famous writers in the world, such as Beckett, Joyce, Yeats, Shaw, Wilde and Heaney; to bring your children to see a game of hurling, to walk or cycle in the beautiful green hills; the list is endless.
The Irish community in Britain clearly has the advantage of being much closer to home
when it comes to travelling to Ireland and we hope to welcome many of you next year. In
Ireland, we do not forget that the Irish community in Britain has played an important
role in Ireland’s history. No visit to Liverpool can pass without a mention of “Big Jim”
Larkin, born in Liverpool of Irish parents, who went on to play such a key role in the
trade union movement in Ireland, including the founding of The Labour Party in 1912.
I know that in Liverpool, people take their football quite seriously – which may be an
under-statement. The Irish community has played an important role for the local teams
down through the years. I am thinking of players like John Aldridge, who represented
both Liverpool and Tranmere, and Kevin Sheedy, whom I was delighted to see return to
work with the Everton Academy in October, after a serious illness; both of these great
players were born in Britain and like so many others wore the green jersey with great
distinction.
Let me conclude by thanking you again for the warmth of your welcome here in
Liverpool.
Míle buíochas daoibh go léir! Thank you.