ST. PATRICK'S DAY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT McALEESE

St Patrick's Day is a day of national joyful celebration treasured by the people of Ireland both at home and in their many adopted homelands throughout our world. Wherever we are, this day reminds us of our shared heritage and our membership of a remarkable global family.

We are the adopted children of St. Patrick, the outsider whose great gift to Ireland and her people was his exhortation to love one another. Each generation has interpreted his message in very different circumstances. Many left Ireland with very little: yet no matter how poor or oppressed they were they remembered those who were even worse off at home and they created vital networks of care for each other.

Today we honour our patron saint in very exciting times. Modern Ireland is economically successful and culturally vibrant as never before. It has made a huge contribution to the ongoing Peace Process and is a respected, dynamic partner in the European Union. It is a home to newcomers of many cultures, faiths, nationalities and identities. A land of opportunity now, the changing face of Ireland grows more fascinating each day. Behind this welcome peace and progress is a traditional value system which links us to St. Patrick. It continues to infuse our restless ambition for a fully inclusive society where all participate in life's banquet and none are mere spectators. Wherever Irishmen and women gather this day I know they share that ambition and take pride in it.

As our global Irish family and friends celebrate this day through the expression of our culture and heritage in our language, literature, games, poetry, music, and dance, I hope that the legacy of St. Patrick will long encourage us to treasure our strong community spirit and tradition of welcome and care for one another. Enjoy St. Patrick's Day 2005.

MARY McALEESE
PRESIDENT OF IRELAND