Remarks by President Higgins on his Visit to St. Mary’s Hospital
27th June 2012
Ladies and Gentlemen
Tá an-áthas orm bheith i bhur measc inniu. Míle buíochas as an gcuireadh agus an fáilte sin.
As a relatively new resident of the Phoenix Park I am very pleased to have this opportunity to visit my new neighbours here at St. Mary’s Hospital. I would like to thank you for your kind invitation and for the wonderful welcome you have given me.
The history of the St. Mary’s Hospital building, which has been an important landmark within the park for almost two hundred and fifty years, is rich in compassion and care.
Mar is eol daoibh, tógadh Scoil Míleata Ibernach Ríoga, ar an céad dul síos, chun aire a thabairt do ghasúir na ndaoine a bhí sa Reisimint Éireannach nó do ghasúir le tuismitheoirí thar lear. Tá spiorad láidir an chúraim agus an chineáltais sin le fáil go flúirseach suas go dtí an lá atá inniu ann in Ospidéal Naomh Muire. Is áit cónaithe é Ospidéal Naomh Muire do dhaoine aosta agus do dhaoine míchumasacha le blianta beaga anuas freisin.
[As many of you will probably know, it was originally built as the Royal Hibernian Military School to look after the welfare of orphaned children of the members of the Irish Regiment or those whose parents had been posted abroad. That spirit of concern and kindness has lived on and today and for many years now, St. Mary’s has been a valuable home from home for elderly citizens and adults with a physical disability.]
While I already knew that St. Mary’s has a long and very well deserved tradition of caring for citizens for whom it is no longer viable to remain at home, I have to say that looking around me I am deeply impressed with the facilities here and the range of activities available for residents. I am also impressed by the dedication and commitment of the staff and volunteers at St. Mary’s, which is palpable the minute you walk through the door. I would like to commend them on their efforts to make a difference to the quality of life of the residents in their care.
When I was inaugurated as President of Ireland last year I stated that I would seek to achieve an inclusive citizenship where every citizen participates and everyone is treated with respect. Here in St. Mary’s that dream is a lived reality. The vision and philosophy of this hospital is strongly focused on the patient as an individual, and as a person and a citizen with a right to be treated with dignity and respect; to have their welfare and their privacy safeguarded at all times.
St. Mary’s really is a ‘home from home’ where many of you can socialise with your peers, participate in a wide variety of social and leisure activities – many of which might otherwise be inaccessible to you – and feel safe, knowing that you are surrounded by people who have your best interests at heart.
Chomh maith leis sin is áit suaimhnis é Ospidéal Naomh Muire do na teaghlaigh go léir; áit ina dtugtar aire den scoth dóibh.
[For your families, also, St. Mary’s is a place of reassurance and comfort; a place where they can be assured of appropriate and effective consultation and collaboration and where they know that you are receiving the highest possible standard of care.]
I was disappointed not to be free to attend the opening of the ‘Picture House Project’ which was held here earlier this year, due to prior commitments. I believe it was a huge success with cinema classics such as “Singing in the Rain” and “On the Waterfront” being screened here. However, I am delighted to have finally been able to come here and meet so many kind, enthusiastic and interesting neighbours.
I would like to thank Anne O’Connor for her original invitation to come here and meet you all, and all of you for making this occasion such an enjoyable one.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.