Speech at Launch of Waterford Mid-Summer Festival – Waterford 1100
Waterford, 20th June 2014
Tá an-áthas orm bheith anseo inniu chun Féile Lár-Shamhraidh Phort Láirge a oscailt. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le John Cummins, Iar-Mhéara na cathrach seo as a chuireadh cineálta le bheith rannpháirteach libh inniu. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil freisin leis an gComhairleoir James Tobin, Cathaoirleach na Comhairle, agus leis an gComhairleoir Lola O’Sullivan atá ina Mhéara faoi láthair, agus sibhse go léir go deimhin, as an bhfíor-chaoin fáilte sin.
[I am delighted to be here today to open the Waterford Mid-Summer Festival. I would like to thank John Cummins, the former Mayor of this city, for his kind invitation to join you today. I wish also to thank Councillor James Tobin, Cathaoirleach of the Council, the current Mayor, Councillor Lola O’Sullivan and indeed all of you for that very warm welcome.]
This is, of course, a special year of celebration for Waterford and a time of great pride for all those connected to this historic city. Civic anniversaries such as Waterford 1100 allow us the opportunity to pause and consider our long and rich history and how it has shaped and formed the people, the place and the nation we are today. The history of Waterford city is a rich and varied one that pre-dates the Norman invasion of Ireland and which, over the succeeding centuries, has regularly punctuated the unfolding narrative of the island as a whole.
Waterford, of course, takes its name from the Norse word Vedrafjord meaning ‘haven from the windswept sea’. Over its long and rich history, Waterford has indeed been a haven and a home to many generations of Irish citizens. And wherever they may be in Ireland, or across the world, there are still so many citizens who will always remember Waterford as the place where they first learnt the meaning of the word “community” and experienced that all important sense of belonging to, and identifying with, a place that they will always regard as ‘home’.
The fascinating history and rich heritage of Waterford City are in many ways symbolised by Reginald’s Tower. It not only marks the site of the first defensive structure built by the Viking settlers but also, as this country’s only Medieval Museum, preserves and provides access to such a significant period in Irish history.
Reginald’s Tower is also, of course, the venue for the legendary marriage of Aoife and Strongbow. During my recent State Visit to the United Kingdom, I had reason to reflect on this union which began in the ruins of a settlement devastated by battle, conflict and bitter enmity.
Henry McLise’s epic paining of this marriage hangs in the Royal Gallery in the Palace of Westminster where I addressed both Houses of Parliament. Its presence at the heart of the British Parliament recalls a turbulent and unhappy past but, as the friendly state of relations between Ireland and Britain now suggests. On the contrary, we have it within our collective capacities to reject any sense of false inevitabilities about the limits of what can be achieved in the present and to craft a future of new possibilities for ourselves and our children.
Waterford City may have begun its medieval life as a place mired in conflict. Since those tragic days, however, it has continued to change and evolve – surviving the oppression of the penal years, the Great Famine/An Gorta Mór and, of course, our fight for independence from British rule. It has also witnessed a Europe divided by two world wars and the emergence of a newly confident Ireland playing its part in a modern and unified European community.
As a city that faces the sea and has a history of trading with the world, the people of Waterford have always been aware of, and sensitive to, the impact of wider global developments. Mark Roper evocatively captures the essence of this port city in the following lines from his poem “A Prosperous Port”:
“Magnificence of rigging
above a mile of quay,
the city’s face freshened
by salt from every sea.”
Waterford City has constantly re-invented, re-imagined and freshened itself adapting to a changing and developing world. Today it combines all that is best about a modern city while retaining a pride in its rich history and heritage, reminding us of the importance of incorporating that which was best about our past into our ever evolving and changing society.
Waterford, like all other Irish towns, cities, villages and suburbs across Ireland has recently had to face new challenges and difficulties. Here, as in the rest of Ireland, the wounds of business closure, negative equity, job losses and migration have cut deep. However, time and again since I became President of Ireland, I have been impressed and inspired by how communities have come together in a spirit of active participation and hope for the future they can craft together.
That spirit is tangible here today in this garden which symbolises the great sense of community and family which lies at the heart of this dynamic city. I have been most interested to learn of the plans to fully develop this space, not only into a place of nature and regeneration, but also into a place of culture which will enable citizens to engage in music, art, theatre, film, design, sculpture and sport in a spirit of citizenship and neighbourly togetherness.
All of this was joyfully evident in the Poetry in Motion dance collaboration which we enjoyed earlier. I want to congratulate Mark Roper and the three Waterford dance troupes for this uplifting and imaginative experience. What we have seen today is a great example of what can be achieved when arts are embedded into the physical design of the area, into the calendar of the community’s year and into the living experience of our young people. It shows the vital role that arts and culture plays in creating dynamic, creative and reflective societies. That is why we need libraries, performance venues and creative spaces like this one and I commend your local community for working together to imagine and develop it.
Insíonn an seanfhocal Gaelach‘ní neart go cur le chéile’ dúinn gurb é inár saibhreas comhchoiteann is ea a lonaíonn ár neart is ár mbeogacht – is saibhreas atá i bhfad níos leithne ná airgead de réir mar a dhéantar é a shainmhíniú. Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil saibhreas comhchoiteann Phort Láirge lonnaithe ina phobal comhbhách cruthaitheach; ar saibhreas é atá á dhíriú de shíor chun pobal rannpháirtíoch tacúil a chruthú agus a chur chun cinn.
[The old Irish saying ‘ní neart go cur le chéile' tells us that our strength and vitality lies in our common wealth – a wealth that is much more broadly defined than money. It is obvious that the common wealth of
Waterford lies with its caring and creative people; a wealth that is constantly being channelled into the creation and development of an inclusive, supportive and participative community.]
Another important part of that common wealth is, of course, sport. I know that Waterford city and county enjoy a proud sporting tradition. As an aficionado of the League of Ireland, I recall with great affection the Waterford soccer team of the 1960s and 1970s – with such legendary winger as Paddy Coad, and the unforgettable strikes of Johnny Matthews.
And in recent years, Waterford hurling has dazzled us with its skill, passion and intensity. I know that a very brave and impressive display against Cork did not prevail in the recent replay, but I believe that Waterford – with some exciting new players, such as Tadgh Burke, Barry Coughlan, Colin Dunford, Austin Gleeson, Jamie Nagle, Shane Walsh and Eddie Barrett – will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the All-Ireland series.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate all of the citizens of Waterford, those who still live here, those whose memories are rooted in this great city and those whose ancestors have lived and left their mark in this place, on reaching this great landmark. I wish you all an enjoyable year of celebration and thank you once again for welcoming me here today. Up the Deise!