REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE “Reminiscence PROJECT” EXHIBITION COLÁISTE BRÍDE, ENNISCORTHY
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE “Reminiscence PROJECT” EXHIBITION COLÁISTE BRÍDE, ENNISCORTHY, CO. WEXFORD
Is minic a chloisimid na focail “Aon Scéal?”, agus ar ndóigh, tá suim ag gach duine, idir óg agus aosta, i scéalta. Is í príomh-aidhm an tionscaimh atá le feiceáil anseo inniú, “Aon Scéal Eile”, ná fianaise na scéalta atá i mbéal na ndaoine a chur ar phar agus a choimead beo. Is iad na scéalta sin a chuireann go mór le saibhreas ár dteanga agus le hoidhreacht ár n-áit dhúchais féin. Dá bhrí sin, cuirim fáilte ó chroí leis an tionscnamh béaloideasa seo, “Aon scéal eile”.
I am genuinely delighted to be here with you today to explore this exhibition, which is part of the Reminiscence Project. As you all know, the aim of that project has been to gather and preserve the wealth of folk traditions and stories which the older members of our community possess, before they are lost for all time. It is in the unpacking and retelling of these stories that the shape of our own lives is revealed through the many lives our lives are built upon. You cannot be sure where you are going unless you know where you have been and the stands are our signposts on the road backward - the road our ancestors travelled. The light we shine on them will also shine on and through us, deepening and enriching our comprehension of the present, our fixation will the past.
The Wexford Organisation for Rural Development, in collaboration with the Arts Office of Wexford County Council, are to be congratulated for their initiative in sponsoring this project - not only for being so proactive and farsighted in its initial creation, but also for actively supporting it in the two years since its inception. It is this spirit of partnership that lies at the heart of community development in Ireland, and which is such a vital ingredient in the success of countless community initiatives across the country.
This is a very timely project. At a time of harmonisation across so many spheres of life in Europe, it is all the more important that each nation seeks to preserve its own unique culture and identity, at local as well as national level. The great gift of diversity and difference is at the heart of Europe and is a crucial part of our developing European culture. We are indeed fortunate that the European Union shares and supports this ethos, and that far from undermining diversity, it celebrates and supports it through funding for initiatives such as the Leader Programme.
It is particularly important that the richness of our culture and folklore, is preserved for future generations. We are constantly reminded that we now live in an Information Age, driven by technological progress, the globalisation of knowledge, and by communication technologies such as the Internet. Amid all of this progress, and despite the capacity to communicate with each other regardless of distance, it is all too easy to lose sight of the wealth that lies on our own doorstep.
We in Ireland are fortunate to have inherited a strong sense of community and loyalty to the place and people from which we come. It is especially important that our young people, in whose hands the future preservation of our heritage lies, are given an opportunity to find out for themselves the important role of folklore and local history in understanding ourselves and the community in which we live.
That is why this project is of such great value. The exhibition which we see here today, is the product of an immense amount of careful research by the transition year students, past and present, of the four participating schools: Coláiste Bhríde, Bridgetown Vocational College, CBS Wexford and Loreto Wexford. Together with the publication of the book “Aon Scéal Eile”, this exhibition will ensure that the unique folklore and traditions of the county will be preserved for future generations.
Perhaps the real benefit of this project, however, has been in the links it has provided across generation gaps, and the skills and confidence it has imbued in all the participating students. Particular thanks for this are due to the Project Co-ordinator, Jacqueline Sydney, who has been so dedicated to the project from the beginning and who has brought these rich traditions into the classroom and into the hearts of all those involved.
We also owe a debt of gratitude to the forty or so contributors to the project, among them Mick Hughes who I understand is now over 100 years old. Without all of you – needless to say – this project would not have been possible. It is a tribute to your generosity of spirit in taking the time to share your stories and knowledge with us all, that this project is such a success.
Sometimes the people who did the most work are left out when congratulations are being issued. So, let me finish with a special word of thanks to all the students who participated in the exhibition and project as a whole. The impact of what you have achieved will have a value and a resonance for many years to come. I hope this project has given you a taste for future involvement in community activity and that Wexford will continue to benefit from your enthusiasm and community spirit for many years to come.