Dublin, 21 December 2014. As President of Ireland, may I offer my warmest wishes for Christmas and the New Year to everyone in Ireland, and to all of our Irish abroad, those who assist them, and the communities that have welcomed them.
Christmas is a season of joy and warmth. It is a special time of the year, when so many of us come together with family and friends in a spirit of sharing and celebration. It is an opportunity to revive hope and anticipation, which can encourage us, including those who may be feeling distressed or lonely, to look beyond the long dark nights, to the promise once again, of the dawning light of Spring.
The story of Bethlehem, of the homeless Joseph and Mary anticipating the birth of their child, is at the heart of this holiday and it invites us to reflect on how we relate to the stranger, the vulnerable in our midst.
At Christmas we are reminded, not only of how a man and a woman had to leave their familiar surroundings and have their child in a strange place, of how they were joined by unknown shepherds and visitors from faraway lands, but most importantly, of the empowering ethic of hospitality.
I completed, last month, a three-week visit to Africa, where I witnessed first-hand the impressive solidarity of countries such as Ethiopia in responding to the predicament of so many men, women and children from neighbouring countries who were forced to leave behind their homes, communities and livelihoods to seek refuge in their neighbour’s territory.
Such willingness to offer shelter to those fleeing persecution or hunger is an issue that should involve us all, and not just the countries first affected.
Christmas is a season of peace, a time to recall all that can be achieved through reflection, forgiveness and reconciliation. Earlier this year, I had the great honour of being Ireland’s first Head of State to pay a State Visit to our nearest neighbour in every sense, the United Kingdom.
It was an immense privilege and pleasure to be thus able to manifest the friendship between our two peoples, who no longer “look at each other with doubtful eyes”, but, rather, with the trustful eyes of mutual respect and shared commitments.
As a New Year approaches, and we continue our lives together, may I offer our appreciation to all who make that possible. I know that a commitment to the service of our citizens is shared by all those with a public service mission.
May I, on behalf of the Irish people, thank in particular those who are caring for our communities during the holiday season – including the staff in our hospitals and emergency services, An Garda Síochána, and members of our Defence Forces who are supporting peace abroad.
My wish is that 2015 will bring our people a bounty of opportunities for flourishing and renewal. May the caring spirit that infuses these precious few days spent in the company of those we love extend to all and well beyond the Christmas holiday, into the year ahead.
Sabina and I wish each and every one of you a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Mar Uachtarán, guím beannachtaí na Nollag agus na hAthbhliana ar gach duine in Éirinn, ar ár mhuintir atá thar lear, orthu siúd a thugann tacaíocht dóibh agus ar na pobail a chuireann fáilte rompu.
Is tréimhse áthais agus teochroí atá sa Nollaig. Is am speisialta den bhliain atá ann, nuair a thagann an oiread sin dínn le chéile inár dteaghlaigh agus lenár gcairde i spiorad an mhuintearais agus an cheiliúrtha. Is deis atá ann an dóchas a athnuachaint agus muid ag féachaint amach romhainn le chéile. Dúinn uile, iad siúd atá uaigneach nó cráite san áireamh, tugann sé spreagadh féachaint chun cinn thar na hoícheanta fada dorcha, go dtí gealltanas ghile an earraigh arís.
Is é scéal Bheithil, faoi Sheosamh agus Muire gan dídean, agus iad ag tnúth le breith a linbh, atá i gcroílár na saoire seo agus iarrtar orainn smaoineamh ar an gcaidreamh a bhíonn againn leis an strainséir, an té atá leochaileach inár measc.
Cuirtear i gcuimhne dúinn faoi Nollaig, ní hamháin an chaoi go raibh ar fhear agus ar bhean a mbaile a fhágaint chun a leanbh a bhreith in áit i bhfad i gcéin, an chaoi ar tháinig aoirí agus cuairteoirí anaithnide ina gcuideachta, ach níos tábhachtaí fós, eitic chumhachtúil an fháilteachais.
An mhí seo caite, d’fhill mé ó chuairt thrí seachtaine chuig an Afraic, áit a bhfaca mé go pearsanta dlúthchomhar suntasach na dtíortha, leithéid na hAetóipe, agus iad ag dul i ngleic leis an gcruachás ina bhfuil an oiread sin fear, ban agus páistí sna tíortha máguaird, arbh éigean dóibh a mbailte, a bpobal agus a slite beatha a fhágáil ina ndiaidh chun dídean a fháil ina gcríocha. Ba cheart go léireodh an
dea-thoil sin dúinn go bhféadfaimis go léir, agus ní hamháin na chéad tíortha a gcuirtear isteach orthu, a bheith páirteach san iarracht dídean a thabhairt dóibh siúd atá ag teitheadh ón ngéarleanúint nó ón ocras.
Is séasúr na síochána atá sa Nollaig, uair le tabhairt chun cuimhnimh gach is féidir a bhaint amach trí mhachnamh, trí mhaithiúnas agus trí athmhuintearas. Níos luaithe i mbliana, bhí sé d’onóir agam a bheith ar an gcéad Cheann Stáit ar Éirinn a thug Cuairt Stáit ar an gcomharsa is gaire atá againn, i ngach ciall den fhocal sin, is é sin an Ríocht Aontaithe. Ba phribhléid an-mhór agus ba chúis áthais dom a bhí ann, a bheith in ann an cairdeas idir an dá phobal a thaispeáint, pobail nach bhféachann ar a chéile le súile amhrasacha níos mó, ach le súile muiníneacha an chóimheasa agus an tiomantais chomhroinnte.
Agus an Bhliain Nua ag teannadh linn agus muid ag leanúint lenár saol le chéile, ba mhaith liom mo mheas a thaispeáint dóibh siúd a chuireann ar ár gcumas an saol sin a mhaireachtáil. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an tiomantas sin don fhreastal ar ár saoránaigh go léir comhroinnte ina measc siúd atá dírithe ar fónamh a dhéanamh don phobal. Ba mhaith liom, ar son mhuintir na hÉireann, buíochas a ghlacadh leo siúd go léir atá ag freastal ar ár bpobail le linn na saoire – na foirne sna hospidéil, na seirbhísí éigeandála, an Garda Síochána, agus baill Óglaigh na hÉireann atá ag tacú leis an tsíocháin thar lear.
Is é mo mhian go dtiocfaidh flúirse deiseanna chun rathú, athnuachan, agus cúram a dhéanamh sa bhliain dhá mhíle agus a cúigdéag. Go dté spiorad an chúraim sin, a leathann ar fud an dornáin laethanta luachmhara seo a chaitear inár gcomhluadair gheanúla, ar fud an phobail, amach thar an Nollaig agus isteach sa bhliain atá amach romhainn.
Guím féin agus Sabina Nollaig shona ar gach aon duine díbh agus Bliain Nua faoi shíocháin agus faoi mhaise.
Slán agus beannacht.