A love of sport is shared by the people of Ireland and New Zealand. This summer, Ireland was delighted to host the Women’s Rugby World Cup. We are now bidding to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. A few weeks ago, a crowd of 82,000 filled Croke Park for the All-Ireland Football Final. We hope that someday the same ground will be filled with 82,000 rugby fans for a World Cup final, when maybe, just maybe, Ireland can edge out the All Blacks for a second time! Before I conclude may I say that, as a nation, we in Ireland remain very conscious of the enormous debt of gratitude we owe to those who have left our 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 new waves of emigrants from Ireland, as they too begin new chapters in a country that has welcomed and supported so many of our people. Groups like the Christchurch Irish society are home to many Irish celebratory, social and cultural events as well as providing a space of welcome and friendship to new Irish emigrants as they seek to create a life here in Wellington.
President Higgins at the Arts Centre in Christchurch for a meeting with members of the Irish diaspora 14
