McBett
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  • McBett
  • seeds
  • 2020'S
    • 2022 >
      • 2022 17.03 ST PATRICK PARADE Waterford
    • 2021 >
      • 2021 01.08 THE ROOM - covidshort VIDEO ONLINE EVENT
      • 2021 HATCHETING sculpture WEXFORD
    • 2020 >
      • 2020 ongoing STITCHES
      • 2020 Diaspora
      • 2020 ongoing Beithe Deoir BioArt Garden
  • 2010's
    • 2019 >
      • 2019 08.03 Beithe Deoir MEMORIAL FOREST and ECO-ART VILLAGE
      • 2019 07.04 ALIVE WALL GARDEN GOMA WATERFORD
      • 2019 05.24 Biodiversity WEEK Beithe Deoir presentation GOMA WATERFORD
      • 2019 04.09 SEMS Rcycle Reuse WATERFORD
      • 2019 02.16 OUR BELOVED SWEETEARTH event presentation FOREST FRIENDS IRELAND SLBD NEW ROSS
    • 2018 >
      • 2018 12.13/01.13 Group Exhibition Calligh Berri Bui: Outburst WATERFORD
      • 2018 12.07 Forest Friends Ireland New Branch and art exhibition Skylon Hotel
      • 2018 10.18 GROUP EXHIBITION art and crafts WEXFORD OPERA FESTIVAL
      • 2018 09.21 ENCHAUNTER Lullabies DUBLIN CULTURE NIGHT
      • 2018 08.14 BUTTERFLY etching on copper NEW ROSS
      • 2018 05.30 WAY DOWN SOUTH (BREAK THE HEART OF ME!) sculpture DUBLIN
      • 2018 05.15 FOREST FRIENDS Launch of PEACE FOREST DUBLIN
      • 2018 03.17 Beithe Deoir ART MARKET WEXFORD
      • 2018 03.07/11 CAILITE AGUS FAIGHTE 2 / LOST & FOUND 2 Photographic installation DUBLIN
      • 2018 02.25 THE URN workshop DUBLIN ZeroWaste Festival ABC Drumcondra
    • 2017 >
      • 2017 12.17 The Back Page Market Art and Crafts DUBLIN
      • 2017 11.30 CAILITE AGUS FAIGHTE Finissage Event Ivy House DUBLIN
      • 2017 10.00 CIRCLES OF THE SUN film CORK
      • 2017 09.22 ENCHAUNTER Lullabies DUBLIN
      • 2017 08.30/12.01 CAILITE AGUS FAIGHTE solo exhibition Ivy House DUBLIN
      • 2017 08.06 DROSS EVOLUTION GALLERY Sustainable and Recycled Art and Design Collective OPENING in NAAS Co. KILDARE
      • 2017 07.02 ACCORDING TO THIS RESISTANCE VIDEO by THERESE DALTON ITALIAN FUSION FESTIVAL DUBLIN
      • 2017 06.07 ACCORDING TO THIS RESISTANCE sculpture FERRYBANK, WATERFORD
      • 2017 02.25 MARTIN SCORSESE INDUSTRY masterclass DUBLIN
      • 2017 02.12 WINDY OZ stall at FUSION SUNDAY MARKET DUBLIN
      • 2017 02.17 Bernard Show Art Market Art & Design DUBLIN
      • 2017 02.17 MUSIC OF INDIFFERENCE solo exhibition study GOMA GALLERY WATERFORD
      • 2017 01.00 BIRDHEADED MONSTER film production of script by Joseph Minion BARCELONA-DUBLIN-ROME
    • 2016 >
      • 20161028 CIRCLES OF THE SUN Film DUBLIN
      • 2016 04/10.00 WABI-SABI ceramic work in progress NEW ROSS
      • 2016 08.05 WOMEN'S LIVES MATTER installation NEW ROSS
      • 2016 07/08.00 WOODWALK video Werner Herzog Film Direction Course On Line NEW ROSS
      • 2016 07.28/31 S-KIPS 200 Screening CRUTHÙ` ARTS FESTIVAL LONGFORD
      • 2016 07.09 UNTITLED Collography SOMA CONTEMPORARY WATERFORD
      • 2016 06.12 Groups 4 Growth STREETFEAST CBS
      • 2016 04.00 Irish Drawing Circle 1 2016 04.00 Irish Drawing Circle 1 Dorothy's Book's Book
      • 2016 03.00 IRISH DRAWING CIRCLE Kiera's Book
      • 2016 o2.13 - Pressenza Athens - publication
      • 2016 02.00 IRISH DRAWING CIRCLE Kate's Book
      • 2016 01.00 IRISH DRAWING CIRCLE McBett's Book
    • 2015 >
      • 2015 11.29 sealines writ'inwater UCD
      • 2015 06.04 THE GUILLOTINE PROJECT Notes from the Kingdom ROMA
      • 2015 06.11 LA MIA IMMAGINE TI APPARTIENE exhibition graphic ROMA
      • 2015 DRAWING CIRCLES >
        • 2015 Global Drawing Circle 3 Parul's Book
        • 2015 09.00 GLOBAL DRAWINGS CIRCLE 3 Parul Gupta's book
        • 20015 05.00 IRISH DRAWING CIRCLE 1 on IRENE UHLEMANN's BOOK
        • 2015 04.00 GLOBAL DRAWING CIRCLE 3 on JIM DAWKIN's book
        • 2015 04.00 IRISH DRAWING CIRCLES 1 on Kiera O'Toole's book
        • 2015 03.00 GLOBAL DRAWING CIRCLE 3 on Marta Kot's book
        • 2015 02/03.00 IRISH DRAWING CIRCLES 1 McBett book
        • 2015 02.00 GLOBAL DRAWING CIRCLE 3 McBett Book
      • 2015 Arts Council Bill Blog
    • 2014 >
      • 2014 11.00 WALTER FACCINI article VITT & DINTORNI magazine
      • 2014 12.03 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS ON DISABILITY Roma
      • 2014 06.30/07.07 FORUM screening/lecture NOVI SAD
      • 2014 05.03 RADIATIONS painting on body DUBLIN
      • 2014 02.14 INKBOOK n.1 painting DUBLIN
      • 2014 01.27/02.03 Carta di Lampedusa
      • 2014 SEALINES Writ' in Water >
        • Charter of Lampedusa - English Version
        • 2014 09 28 SEALINES Writ in Water project Irish Arts Council
    • 2013 >
      • 2013 11.12 Track 14 I'M GLAD TODAY IS MONDAY voice excerpt SEATTLE/DUBLIN phone call
      • 2013 10.03 ACCOGLIENZA (WELCOME) committee 3 October LAMPEDUSA
      • 2013 10.16 RADIO DUBLINO guest DUBLIN
      • 2013 09.21 LIMBO sculpture DUBLIN
      • 2013 09.00 HSP (160) act DUBLIN
      • 2013 08.25 JJ441: Fragility & Strength sculpture WATERFORD2012
      • 2013 05.23 MICROCOSMOS (Kaspar) Video Installation ROMA
      • 2013 00.00 THE SHORE Mural Restaurant La Dolce Vita DUBLIN
    • 2012 >
      • 2012 10.13 Dalla L a Dalla exhibition Teatro del Navile BOLOGNA
      • 2012 09.08 WHITEWASH Installation DUBLIN Mountjoy Sq
      • 2012 06.14/09.30 WASHING... graphic Palazzo Bentivoglio BOLOGNA SpamArt
      • 2012 06.16 WHITEWASH installation Iliocht Co. LEITRIM Festival Pause
      • 2012 06.08 - STEVE-X TRAVELS, a Memorial Gallery
    • WOM 2011/2012 >
      • 2012 08.10 WOM meets PAVEE POINT event DUBLIN
    • 2011 >
      • 2011 11.00 TEATRO VALLE OCCUPATO residence prod ROMA
      • 2011 05.00 Connected_issue51 - press DUBLIN
      • 2011 08.05/07 IMPERFECT PRESENT TENSE Installation S. MARINO Rep. SMIAF Festival
      • 2011 08.05/07 WHITEWASH Interaction SAN MARINO REP. SMIAF festival
    • 2010 >
      • 2010 11.22 THE GUARDIAN press
      • 2010 10.22/28 WHITEWASH interaction, Galerie Oberfkampf, PARIS
      • 2010 10.22/28 DCD Dublin Conversations Drawers SCULPTURE - Galerie Oberfkampf, PARIS
      • 2010 MARCO POLO Reiseführer GERMANY
      • 2010 12.15 DRAWING Dublin
  • 2000's
    • 2009 >
      • 2009 12.24 PHOOLAN DEVI Poem DUBLIN
      • 2009 CONNECTED MAGAZINE article
      • 2009 OH FRANCIS season 1: Issue 2 article By Sam Keogh
    • 2008 >
      • 2008 04.25 S-KIPS 2007 documentary DUBLIN
      • 2008 07.10/24 In/OUT YOUR WINDOW Artist in Prison scheme DUBLIN St Patrick Institute
      • 2008 11.7/9 IMPERFETTO TEMPO PRESENTE Installation TORINO
      • 2008 02.07 SKIP-S documentary ROMA
      • 2008 01.27 WHITENING WITH TRACES OF PRUSSIAN BLUE digital graphic ROMA
      • 2008 SECTIONS ballpen drawings Dublin
    • 2007 >
      • 2007/8 TEACHER adult art classes ST DOMINICK FETAC3
      • 2007 Amy Denio GAP press
      • 2007 11.10 SKIP-S Documentary TORINO
      • 2007 07.07 - 08.23 ArtProcess - Collettiva d'Arte Contemporanea TRAPANI
      • 2007 FOREST FRIENDS
    • 2006 Beckett Centenary Festival >
      • 2006 12.22 MURPHY'S ASHES Installation – Castel Sant’Angelo Roma, Italy
      • 2006 11.01 MURPHY'S ASHES Tarquinia Viterbo, Italy
      • 2006 FIGURE & GROUND graphic WOMEN COOMBE HOSPITAL DUBLIN
      • 2006 10.19/30 ALL OUT solo ROMA
      • 2006 10.14 LEAP INTO THE VOID theatre DUBLIN
      • 2006 05.13/06.30 ALL OUT solo DUBLIN WRITERS MUSEUM
    • 2005 WAY OUT solo exhibition DUBLIN >
      • 2005 STRANGE FRUIT installation DUBLIN
      • 2005 INTERNAL LANDSCAPES >
        • 2005 BEAT REST sculpture DUBLIN
        • 2005 WOMAN OF BEARE sculpture
        • 2005 ITCHI sculpture DUBLIN
        • 2000 EBB sculpture
        • 2005 FOSSIL ECHO sculpture DUBLIN
        • 2005 BROKEN HEARTH sculpture DUBLIN
        • 2005 OUTBURST sculpture
        • 2005 THAW sculpture
        • 2005 FERTILITY sculpture
        • 2005 OPEN MIND sculpture DUBLIN
      • 2005 BOUND BEINGS >
        • 2005 VOICES OF JEANNE sound installation DUBLIN
        • 2005 ODISSEO installation
        • 2005 PROMETEUS sculpture
        • 2005 MURPHY WORK IN PROGRESS scuplture+video installation DUBLIN
        • 2005 GULLIVER sculpture DUBLIN
        • 2005 ERA sculpture
        • 2005 KASPAR installation
        • 2005 SEBASTIEN sculpture >
          • 2005 12.25 fFLESH & BONES photography EU
      • 2005 THREADS video installation DUBLIN
    • 2004 >
      • 2004 10.05/10 ARTS CLUB Performance DUBLIN
    • 2003 >
      • 2003 11.03/12.28 STILL IN PROGRESS solo DUBLIN
      • 2003 07.23 face painting GARDEN PARTY FOR FAMILIES - ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN, DUBLIN
      • 2003 GULLIVER sculpture DUBLIN
      • 2003 01/02.00 STRANGE FRUIT press SuccoAcido #14 PALERMO
      • 2003 01.12 /02.09 MANDRAKE exhibition COLUMBUS OHIO
      • 2003 01.09 THE OTHER PAPER OHIO 09-15 article COLUMBUS
    • 2002 >
      • 2002 05.01/07.31 TRESHOLDS solo exhibition IVY HOUSE Dublin
      • 2002 05.01/08.31 THRESHOLD solo DUBLIN
      • 2002 ASTRAL TRAVEL drawing DUBLIN
      • 2002 BERLUSCONI'S MOUSTRAP Film postproduction DUBLIN
    • 2001 >
      • 2001 STRANGE FRUIT installation DUBLIN
      • 2001 11.04 SUNDAY INDEPENDENT press DUBLIN
      • 2001 06.01/07.31 SOUL OF A TREE sculpture Co. CORK
      • 2001 07/08.00 SOUL OF A TREE SSI Newsletter publication IRELAND
    • 2000 >
      • 2000 RURAL TOWN & OTHER TRIPS photography DUBLIN
      • 2000 WHITE BLOSSOM ON PADDY LALLY'S GARDEN sculpture DUBLIN
      • 2000 PIERCED sculpture IONTAS EXHIBITION SLIGO - BELFAST - LIMERICK
      • 2000 MURPHY Sculpture + video installaton DUBLIN CASTLE
  • 1990's
    • 1999 >
      • 1999 WHITE HOLE sculpture DUBLIN
      • 1999 A-GRO BA Theatre SFX
    • 1998 >
      • 1998 04.00 Painting for Restaurant AR VICOLETTO DUBLIN
      • 1998 04.00 MOVING TO DUBLIN
    • 1997 >
      • 1997 03.17 L'AMOR DI LUDMILLA Opera Production ROMA
      • 1997 11.23 AMBRAKOVSKIJ event Production ROMA Ambra Jovinelli
    • 1996 PROGETTO SHERWOOD festival production/direction ROMA City Council
    • 1995 >
      • 1995 QUAD Collective independent theatre productions ROMA Ex-Snia Viscosa
      • 1995 DISEGNI IN FUMO Installation ROMA
    • 1994 >
      • 1994 HON novel ROMA
      • 1994 06.07 I DEMONI DEL TAMBURO taiko Festival ROMA Letteratura
    • 1993 >
      • 1993 06.22/23 LA SCUOLA DEI BUFFONI theatre set ROMA
      • 1993 03.30 TOPI - a memorial
      • 1993 FIABE X 3D short tales ITALY
    • 1992 >
      • 1992 ABRAXA TEATRO Street Theatre ANAGNI ITALY
    • 1991 >
      • 1991 TROEMP L'OEIL interior design ROMA
      • 1991 TESTIMONIANZE SPARSE (SCATTERED INTERVIEWS) tales ROMA
    • 1990 >
      • 1990 L'ACQUA DEL SANGUE set design ROMA
      • 1990 CEILING interior design ROMA
      • 1990 TROEMP L'OEIL painting ROMA Linea Verde fashion shop
      • 1990 TAIKO workshop with Ondekoza ROMA
  • 1980's
    • 1988 >
      • 1988 IL SILENZIO DELLE SIRENE set decoration ROME
      • 1988 A QUALCUNO PIACE CALDO set props and decoration ROMA
    • 1986 >
      • 1986 ROMEO E GIANNINA theatre set ROMA
    • 1985 >
      • 1985 IL PRIGIONIERO (The Prisoner) Installation GENAZZANO
      • 1985 HOMAGE TO BORGES graphic ROMA
      • 1985 McBESTIARIUS tales
    • 1984 >
      • 1984 DIPLOMA Fine Art Academy in Set Design ROMA
      • 1984 09.00 M.C.ESHER e GLI SCIENZIATI DILETTANTI thesis ROMA
      • 1984 LE DEPEUPLEUR (The Lost Ones) Set Design
      • 1984 02.21 DEFORMAZIONE PROFESSIONALE exhibition ROMA Galleria L. Di Sarro
      • 1984 Study for Le Depeupleur (The lost Ones) ROMA
    • 1983
    • 1982 GRAPHIC ART Ball Pen Drawings & Collages ITALIA
  • 1970's
    • 1974 FILARMONICA ROMANA children choir ROMA
  • 1960's
    • 1967 Drawing
  • SHE-D 2006/11
    • SHE-D 3 DUBLIN Gardiner Lane >
      • 2011 @ SHE-D 3 >
        • 2011 10.27 @ SHE-D - GESTURES
        • 2011 08.19 @ SHE-D - CINEMA PARADISE
        • 2011 07.24 @ SHE-D REDMOON syzygy
        • 2011 06.10 @ SHE-D - OLTREMARA
        • 2011 02.01 @ SHE-D - DIRTY HANDS
      • 2010 @ SHE-D 3 >
        • 2010 05.30 @SHE-D - YOUNG KNOWLEDGE
    • SHE-D 2 DUBLIN Henrietta Lane >
      • 2010 @ SHE-D 2 >
        • 2010 01.28 @ THE SHED 2 reg THE HOWL INTO THE HOLE 1
      • 2009 @ THE SHED 2 >
        • 2009 10.30 @THE SHED – REPTILE CABARET
        • 2009 10.16 @THE SHED – EARTHQUACK
        • 2009-10.16 @ SHE-D 2 EARTHQUACK
        • 2009 10.17 @THE SHED – SOLUS & GUESTS: AN IRISH/ARABIAN MIX EVENING
        • 2009 10.09/10 @THESHED – TRIBAL MOVEMENT DAWN
        • 2009 10.03 @THE SHED - STRINGS
        • 2009 09.25 @THE SHED - REPTILE CABARET
        • 2009 09.18 @THE SHED - EARTHQUACK 7
        • 2009 09.12/13 @THE SHED lindy exchange dawn
        • 2009 09.11 @THE SHED - ELEVENINE
        • 2009 09.04 @THE SHED - LEMOMO
        • 2009 08.27 @THE SHED - MARS HOAX
        • 2009 08.14 @ THE SHED - WAVES
        • 2009 08.21 @THE SHED - EARTHQUACK 6
        • 2009 07.31 @THE SHED REPTILE CABARET 6
        • 2009 07.24 @THE SHED EARTHQUACK 5
        • 2009 07.14 @THE SHED - WAVES
        • 2009 07.04 @THE SHED – HUMAN MUSIC NIGHT 4 missed
        • 2009 07.03 @THE SHED – CREWGER’S NIGHT
        • 2009 06.26 @ THESHED REPTILE CABARET 5
        • 2009 06.25 @ BREAK FOR THE BORDER - HUMAN MUSIC 3
        • 2009 06.19 @ THE SHED EARTHQUACK 4
        • 2009 06.12 @ THE SHED DIVERCITY 3
        • 2009 06.06 @ THE SHED HUMAN MUSIC 2 + CREWEGER'S NIGHT 3
        • 2009 05.29 @ THE SHED REPTILE CABARET 4
        • 2009 05.23 @ THE SHED DIVERCITY 2 + WORLD IMAGES 4
        • 2009 05.22 @THE SHED - EARTHQUACK 3
        • 2009 05.17 @ THE SHED CANNADIS CHASSIDIS
        • 2009 05.10 @ THE SHED HUMAN MUSIC NIGHT 1
        • 2009 04.26 @ THE SHED DIVERCITY 1
        • 2009 04.24 @ THE SHED REPTILE CABARET 3
        • 2009 04.17 @ THE SHED EARTHQUACK
        • 2009 05.08 @ THE SHED CREWGER'S NIGHT 2
        • 2009 04.04@ THESHED CREWGER'S NIGHT 1
        • 2009 04.01 @ THESHED QUEER SPRAOI
        • 2009 03.28 @ THESHED METALDRAGON 2 - ANAXAGORAS
        • 2009 03.27 @ THESHED REPTILE CABARET 2
        • 2009 03.21 @ THESHED WORLD IMAGES 3
        • 2009 03.20 @ THESHED EARTHQUACK 1
        • 2009 03.04 @ THESHED PARADISE 8
        • 2009 02.27 @ THESHED REPTILE CABARET 1
        • 2009 02.26 @ THESHED VOICE
        • 2009 02.25 @ THESHED PARADISE 7
        • 2009 02.21 @ THESHED WORLD IMAGES 2
        • 2009 02.12 @ THESHED BANDITS
        • 2009 02.11 @ THESHED PARADISE 5
        • 2009 02.07 @ THESHED LLUZJON
        • 2009 02.04 @ THESHED PARADISE 4
        • 2009 01.30 @ THESHED CALLIOPE
        • 2009 01.28 @ THESHED PARADISE 3
        • 2009 01.24 @ THESHED WORLD IMAGES 1
        • 2009 01.21 @ THESHED PARADISE 2
        • 2009 01.14 @ THESHED PARADISE 1
        • 2009 01.04 @THE SHED - THE IRON MOUNTAIN
      • 2008 @THE SHED 2 >
        • 2008 12.14 @ THE SHED 2 mcb DAWN BRAINMELT
        • 2008 10.30 @ THE SHED 2 mcb TAFEL
        • 2008 10.12 @ THE SHED 2 mcb FOLIADA IRMANDINHA
        • 2008 10.05 @ THE SHED 2 reg SEOMRA SPRAOI 1 - HAPPY SPACES
        • 2008 09.27 @ THE SHED 2 reg SOLUS 1 - PEEK-A-BOO
        • 2008 06.28 @ THE SHED 2 mcb SEEDS
        • 2008 06.14 @ THE SHED 2 mcb VICTOR-Y
    • She-d 1 DUBLIN Foley Street >
      • 2008 @THE SHED 1 >
        • 2008 04.27 @ THE SHED 1 mcb FORMS
        • 2008 03.29 @ THE SHED 1 mcb THE LODGER
        • 2008 03.20 @ THE SHED mcb 24 A.A.'s SHILLELAGH
        • 2008 03.16 @ THE SHED 1 mcb EVERYDISCO BUT
        • 2008 03.01 @ THE SHED 1 mcb LAST VISIT
        • 2008 02.23 @ THE SHED 1 mcb VISIT
        • 2009 02.18 @ THESHED PARADISE 6
        • 2008 02.15 @ THE SHED 1 reg DESERTED VILLAGE 2
        • 2008 02.14 @ THE SHED 1 mcb ST VALENTINE'S ASHES
        • 2008 01.31-02.01 @ THE SHED 1 mcb STAMINA + WORKSHOP
        • 2008 01.19 @ THE SHED 1 mcb CHANCE
      • 2007 @THE SHED 1 >
        • 2007 12.08 @ THE SHED 1 mcb REALMS
        • 2007 12.01 @ THE SHED 1 mcb FRAGILITY
        • 2007 11.24 @ THE SHED 1 mcb PASSAGES
        • 2007 11.15 @ THE SHED 1 mcb RESISTANCE
        • 2007 09.11 @ THE SHED 1 mcb CIRCLES
        • 2007 08.14 @ THE SHED 1 mcb BLUE
        • 2007 08.03 @ THE SHED 1 mcb FLOWERS
        • 2007 07.27 @ THE SHED 1 mcb BEHIND THESE WALLS
        • 2007 07.13 @ THE SHED 1 mcb SHORES
        • 2007 06.24 @ THE SHED 1 mcb S-KIPS
        • 2007 06.17 @ THE SHED 1 mcb INTERNATIONAL PICNIC 7
        • 2007 06.10 @ THE SHED 1 mcb GATHERING WITH CINEMA
        • 2007 05.27 @ THE SHED 1 mcb IDENTITIES
        • 2007 05.20 @ THE SHED 1 mcb INTERNATIONAL PICNIC 6
        • 2007 05.17 @ THE SHED 1 mcb ZONES OF PROXIMITY
        • 2007 05.13 @ THE SHED 1 mcb HOLISTIC AFTERNOON
        • 2007 05.06 @ THE SHED 1 mcb IMPROVISING THE PIANO
        • 2007 04.29 @ THE SHED 1 mcb AN ATOMIC NARRATIVE
        • 2007 04.25 @ THE SHED 1 mcb NOTES FROM THE UNDERWORLD
        • 2007 04.15 @ THE SHED 1 mcb INTERNATIONAL PICNIC 5
        • 2007 04.03 @ THE SHED 1 reg DESERTED VILLAGE 1
        • 2007 03.18 @ THE SHED 1 mcb INTERNATIONAL PICNIC 4
        • 2007 02.18 @ THE SHED 1 mcb INTERNATIONAL PICNIC 3
        • 2006 @THE SHED 1
  • MUSIC
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2003 07.23 face painting GARDEN PARTY FOR FAMILIES - ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN, DUBLIN 


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REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A GARDEN PARTY FOR FAMILIES -  ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A GARDEN PARTY FOR FAMILIES - ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN WEDNESDAY, 23 JULY, 2003


Cuireann sé an-áthas orm agus ar mo fhear céile, Martin, fáilte ó chroi a chur romhaibh go léir go dtí Áras an Uachtaráin inniu.

I hope you are all enjoying yourselves. It is a great pleasure for both Martin and I to welcome each and every one of you to Áras an Uachtaráin. Still more than a month left of holidays – not bad or are you missing school? The kids aren’t but the mums and dads are! If you’re missing anything it’s probably swapping “Yu-gi-oh Cards” God help us! Who thinks up of these things?
Anyway you’re all very welcome – the Áras is a friendly place, though there’s a very big dungeon for anyone misbehaving or eating too many cakes! Today is a celebration of family and friends. Today is about acknowledging that in our warp speed world, we race along with little or no time to reflect on life, what we have, what we hold dear, what are the real priorities, to listen to each other, to appreciate each other - my hope is that it will in some way give you a little time out to relax and enjoy each other’s company, a brief respite from the complexities and demands and sometimes the suffering that family life can bring.
I grew up in a family of nine brothers and sisters, so I know how hard it is to get along with everyone all of the time. Families are the place where we first realise that not everyone is exactly the same, not everyone sees things or hears things or understands things exactly as we ourselves do. Families come in all shapes and sizes, but they are still the first and the most important place of learning and of belonging in our lives. It shapes our experiences, personalities and ways of responding to the world far beyond those early years. There is a saying that what is learnt in childhood is engraved on stone. Engrave well and like a skilled diamond cutter a good parent can bring out the brilliance, the internal beauty in a child; engrave badly and you can mark a child for life. We get one chance with our children - that is why good families, good parenting are worth celebrating, worth their weight in gold to any community, any country.
It is not always easy to appreciate our parents when we are young, when they make us do our homework, clean our room, help with the housework – but they do so much for us too, things that we often don’t appreciate until we have grown up and become parents ourselves. Whatever the occasion, good or bad, sad or happy they are there, always there to worry with us, smile with us, listen to our every problem, to stand by us, to stand up for us. So I hope today will be a day when all of you say a special thank you to your parents and give them some of the applause they deserve.
And to the parents and grandparents here today, you know that in between the ups and downs of family life, the daily struggles, the arguments, the worrying, there is always the wonderful sense of fulfilment and pride and magic that children bring to our lives – a feeling beyond any and all comparisons. We are proud of our children but more importantly it is through our children that we adults come to truly know about love, about bringing a incredible richness to each others lives.
I begrudgingly thank our MC this afternoon, Paul Kennedy who I have a very big bone to pick with. The last time he was here he invited people to leave the marquee in order ‘to meet with and shoot the President’. The fact that he left the words “with a camera” out of the equation was the cause of much anxiety to the good members of the Gardai who I may add are now waiting outside to interview him! Not that they’ll be able to when I’m finished with him! We Belfast women are well able to look after ourselves! Shoot the President indeed!
Anyway, I would like to thank our wonderful entertainers this afternoon - the very talented
Hallelujah Choir, together with Aiden Toomey, Steven Holland, Mary Lynch, Guy Carlton, Barbara Schmauct, Eleigh Leigh, Mieke Herrmann, Elisabetta Jacomini and Darren Byrne. I would also like to thank the Civil Defence Officers and the staff here at Áras who work very hard to make occasions such as this enjoyable for everyone. Have a lovely day – don’t worry too much about the dungeon – it’s nearly full after the last time we had kids here so unless you’re really bad………
There’s one final thing I’d like to do and that is to congratulate a special guest, Maura Brennan whose celebrating her 80th Birthday today. Congratulations Maura – we have a cake to mark the occasion and we hope that you will enjoy your birthday very much indeed.
Go raibh maith agaibh.


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