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REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE COUNTY LIMERICK ANTHOLOGY

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE COUNTY LIMERICK ANTHOLOGY ON TUESDAY 16 JUNE 1998

I am very happy to be with you today to launch the County Limerick Anthology – and I am grateful to Limerick County Council for giving me this opportunity to launch their celebrations of one hundred years in existence – in commemoration of the many dedicated councillors and staff who have worked from Limerick since the Council was first convened in 1899. I know that this is the first of many events planned for the centenary.

The Anthology – a collection of works in Irish and English – was the brainchild of Evelyn Conlon – who has had the distinction of being the first ‘Writer in Residence’ to be appointed by Limerick County Council. Evelyn comes from County Monaghan – a county that has produced its own crop of literary genius – and I would like to commend her on this initiative. The anthology – “What Worth the Head / An Cloigeann is a Luach” –draws together the work of thirty writers of prose and poetry – some of whom are being published for the first time – and includes paintings by six Limerick artists who were commissioned to interpret selected poems. So it is a true anthology – a gathering of flowers – from the creative blossoming in the contemporary garden of County Limerick arts – with a variety of themes which – as Evelyn puts it in her introduction – “give a fine taste of late twentieth century prose and poetry”. The works are sometimes humorous, sometimes bleak – but at all times honest it their portrayal of people and place – of Limerick and its people. While it is local in its settings and subjects – its concerns are universal and contemporary – demonstrating the universal nature of literature and art. Literature is a potent force in giving voice to the lives of people - voices which often go unheard and are frequently ignored.

I want to congratulate writer Evelyn - Joan MacKernan, Arts Officer for County Limerick – and Dooradoyle Librarian, Anne Bennett – who together selected the works included in the anthology. They have chosen well. For all of those whose work has been selected for inclusion – it is a particular honour – and one that will stand to them in their future work. It is a great tribute to the County Council whose interest in the arts – which they have demonstrated by their continued support of the arts and artists – dictated the choice of a contemporary literary collection as a centenary project.

I also want to avail of this opportunity to commend Limerick County Council on their support for the arts – and on their tremendous efforts to enrich the lives of the people of County Limerick at a time when we are experiencing a new self-confidence and self-belief – that sees us competing with the best in business and the arts on the international stage. We have all heard considerable mention of the economic renaissance that Ireland is currently enjoying - sometimes referred to as the Celtic Tiger. What is also a source of considerable pride is the cultural renaissance that is going hand and hand with a booming economy. It is appropriate that there should be this formal association between the institutions and the world of the arts. There is a great wealth of talent in art and literature still to be tapped and released – many people who have a significant contribution to make to the cultural life of Ireland. In publishing this anthology – you are providing a vehicle for many writers to gain the recognition and acceptance that they so richly deserve. It is a fitting way in which to commence the centenary celebrations of your Council – and I think it is significant that the first element in that commemoration should be a celebration of the work of the writers and artists of your County.