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IN AN EMPHATIC speech at Dublin Castle today, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that Ireland’s EU Presidency will bring new hope, new possibility and new confidence to Europe’s citizens.
He said the first six months of 2013, when Ireland holds the Presidency, will be about three “simple but crucial words” – stability, jobs and growth.
“Today, Europe is working hard to move beyond the recent economic crisis which has affected so many citizens’ and families’ lives.
“We know all too well here in Ireland the huge sacrifices the crisis has meant. The people of Europe and Ireland need to know there is progress. That there is a next step to recovery.”
Kenny spoke during an official ceremony which saw the EU flag hoisted above Dublin Castle to mark the start of the EU Presidency, the 40-year-anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the Union and the beginning of the European Year of Citizens. The Irish tricolour was also raised.
Comparing today to 1973, when Ireland’s accession was completed, the Taoiseach noted that the number of people in third-level education is six-times greater and the number of women working outside the home has increased almost three-fold.
“Since 1973 our Union has strengthened, deepened and our proud European family has grown,” he added.
Joining the Taoiseach was Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton. Also in attendance at Dublin Castle was the Lord Mayor of Dublin, as well as other government ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and school-children engaged in the EU-focused Blue Star programme.
Both the Irish and EU anthems were played by the Defence Forces Band.
From tomorrow, Ireland is to host the EU Presidency for the first time since 2004. Believed to cost in the region of €60 million, the six month stint is set to cost less than the last time Ireland held the presidency.
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This is a fabulous story; In school we learnt about Edward Jenner/Brunel/Stevenson etc (who indeed were extremely important) but why are we never taught about the advances made by Irish people whether it happened at home or abroad. If we knew more about the innovation and creativity that was driven by them, it might make us a more entrepreneurial people, and not so dependent on others to come in and fill that gap.
Why is there not a museum in this country dedicated to these people?
Not on the list but:
Parsons Family (Birr Co. Offaly) – Giant Telescopes and the steam turbine (although C.A. Parsons was born in London)
Robert Boyle (Lismore, Co. Waterford) – noted for investigating the relationship between pressure and volume of a gas: hence Boyle’s Law (P inversely proportional to V)
George Boole (UCC, Cork – born in England) – his abstract form of algebra, later refined, forms the mathematical basis of the modern electronic circuit.
Because no one has invented that yet, sorry you just did, well done!
Irish? Not really. Anglo-Irish or British, really.
We were never British no matter way you want to word it. Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. We were never British. To be British you would have to be born in England, Wales or Scotland.
Great to see Rynd acknowledged at last. Other “ingenious Irish” inventions include… the stereo stethoscope, the submarine, the periscope, and the steam turbine that makes widespread electricity possible!
(We’ve lots more Irish inventions in our list here too: http://ingeniousireland.ie/2011/02/how-the-ingenious-irish-changed-the-world/)
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