Irish Community Reception, Yarralumla, Canberra

Speech by Michael D. Higgins President of Ireland

Ambassador’s Residence, Canberra

Monday, 16th October, 2017

A Chairde Gael, a Chairde go léir, a Dhaoine Uaisle - Is breá liom agus Sabina an deis seo a bheith againn bheith libh inniu. Is é seo ár gcéad chuairt ar an Astráil, bhíomar ag súil go mór leis an turas seo le fada an lá.

Is cúis áthais dom seasamh le Gaeil Canberra, go mba fhada buan sibh. Guím gach rath oraibh agus sibh ag cur cultúr, teangacha agus leas na hÉireann chun cinn i Réigiún Príomhchathrach na hAstráile, (nó san Australian Capital Territory i mBéarla).

Tar éis turas de bhreis is seacht míle déag cileamar a chur dínn ag teacht anseo, ní féidir liom a shamhlú cén bealach a dhein Gaeil an turas san naoú aois déag faoin choinníollacha i bhfad níos deacra ná mar a bhí againne.

Tugadh na céadta míle Gael thar an bhfarraige anonn thar thréimhse dhá chéad bliain a d’fhág rian doghlanta ar thalamh, cultúr is pobail na tíre seo. D’fhág sé rian ar Éirinn freisin. Le linn na cuairte seo, beidh mé ag iarraidh tuiscint níos doimhne a fháil ar thaithí na nGael a tháinig.

Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests, Sabina and I are delighted and honoured to be with you in Canberra today. This is our first visit to Australia and it is a visit to which we have long looked forward.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation of all the groups and individuals who work in this region to promote and to sustain Irish cultural and community activity in Canberra and the Australian Capital Terrotpru. As a nation we in Ireland remain very conscious of the enormous debt of gratitude we owe to those who have left these shores over so many years. Their hard work, and generous support and encouragement to those who remained at home have played a significant role in the shaping and crafting of the modern Ireland we know today. I am, therefore, always so very pleased to be able to acknowledge and thank in person, the representatives of our Irish communities across the globe who do so much to help each other, to support your homeland in so many ways, and who are such valued ambassadors for Ireland.

I am also so happy as President of Ireland to thank the Irish communities who extend a hand of friendship to the new waves of emigrants from Ireland, as they too begin new chapters of their lives in a country that has the tradition of welcoming and supporting so many of our people.

The links between Ireland and Canberra run deep, our relationship rooted in the beginnings of European settlement in Australia in the late 18th century. The migratory stories of the many Irish who travelled to Australia across the decades and centuries are myriad and complex. They came as prisoners, often convicted for their role in Ireland’s long and difficult battle for independence. They came as shopkeepers and servants, as skilled and unskilled labourers, inspired by the vision of a better future for themselves and their families. They came as refugees from hunger, oppression and grinding poverty, their journey a desperate search for new beginnings. They came willingly, in a sense of adventure, and reluctantly in order to support themselves and the loved ones they had been forced to leave behind.

Whatever their stories the influence and contribution of Australia’s Irish community is woven deeply into the rich and multi-cultural tapestry of modern Australia. It was here in Australia in the 1850’s that Irish labourers, freed from the oppression of British rule, began to assert their right to full democratic participation in colonial life. Here that Irish Catholics such as Charles Gavan Duffy and John Hubert Plunkett could attain high political office, making their profound contribution to the federation of the Australian colonies and crafting of a new Australia built on participative citizenship and the collective welfare and established on civil and religious equality. John Hubert Plunkett showed an integrity in relation to the defence of the human rights of the first occupants of this landmass that will always be remembered by practitioners of human rights. His name will have particular resonance for defenders of indigenous peoples and I am hoping to acknowledge those first occupants

and honour and respect their ancestors.

Through distinguished careers in politics, law, industry, and academia; active engagement in education and in the development of the Catholic church; a proud and generous sharing of our culture and heritage; and the development of settlements and the creation of strong communities, the role played by Irish men and women in the building of modern day Australia has been a profound one.

It is a role that is greatly evident here in Canberra whose Irish connection began when Irishman James Vaughan, accompanied by Joseph Wilde and Charles Throsby Smith first came to the Limestone Plains, later to be renamed Canberra, in 1820. Since then, many other Irish names have been written into the history books and the everyday stories of life in this capital city, the seat of the Government of Australia.

Earlier today I called on Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Lynne at their beautiful residence in Yarralumla’s Government House. It caused me to think of Terence Aubrey Murray from County Limerick, a great parliamentarian and former owner of Yarralumla Estate, who contributed so much to the development of the Australian nation.

I thought, also, of his brother Dr James Fitzgerald who not only built the Woden homestead but also helped to found the first hospital at Queanbeyan.

Here in Canberra I think, also of Offaly born Hugh Mahon, infamous as being the only member of the House of Representatives to be expelled from that body, but who also fought for and spoke so courageously in favour of a free and independent Irish state.

As I travel through the streets of this city I cannot but think of so many other Irish names; the Maloneys, Murphys, Cunninghams and McMahons and the many others that may not appear in all of the history books of Canberra but are inscribed into the headstones of its cemeteries and etched into the roots and foundations of this great city.

I also, today, think of the many people gathered here whose names bear witness to your proud Irish heritage. Many of you represent Irish-Australian families that are several generations deep, but your connection with Ireland remains strong. Indeed it has been a pleasure to hear so many positive stories of Irish emigrants who have made their mark in this thriving and dynamic city – working, making friends, raising and educating families, living rich and fulfilling lives while also remaining true to, and proud of, their Irish roots and culture.

So many of you here today are custodians of important stories, handed down across the generations by your

President Higgins and Sabina attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Australian War Memorial

forefathers. They are, to you, stories that are a critical part of your family history. But they are also a critical part of Australia and Ireland’s shared history, allowing for assessment and consideration of the different but interconnecting experiences and individual voices that comprise that past, and for a real understanding of the journey that has brought us to the contemporary moment. They are precious stories, ones that must be treasured and generously shared.

Today Canberra is home to a thriving and dynamic Irish community who make a strong and vital contribution to the worlds of business, education, politics, the Arts, Public Service and the many other sectors which are critical to the creation of a strong and functioning society and economy. It is an Irish community of whom we in Ireland are greatly proud, representing all that is best about our Irishness while also playing a proud and active role in this city where you, or your forefathers, arrived as strangers but learnt to call home.

At the centre of the Irish community is, of course, the Irish Club, home to so many Irish social, cultural and celebratory events, and a welcoming space of friendship and support for new Irish emigrants to Australia. As President of Ireland I thank you for extending that important hand of friendship, and for all you do to ensure our rich Irish heritage remains alive and relevant amongst our extended family here in Canberra.

As we look to the future I am confident that Ireland and Australia’s friendship will not be one based solely on a shared history, but also on shared values and interests and our shared existence on our vulnerable and beautiful planet.

Indeed it has been greatly uplifting to note that political contact between our two countries has increased very significantly in the last six months. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Julie Bishop met our then Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan for significant bilateral consultation.

That was followed by visits of two Minister of State from Ireland who were in Australia for St Patrick’s Day celebrations. More recently Finance Minister Mathias Cormann visited Ireland with the European-Australian Business Council delegation. And just last month Sabina and I had the very real pleasure of welcoming Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove during their visit to Ireland

These are very positive developments which speak, not only of our rich and shared past but of an interconnected future of hope and possibility

In conclusion, may I thank you for the very generous welcome you have extended to Sabina and me today and thank you once again for being such valued ambassadors for Ireland.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.