A few weeks before the 17th of March, I’d received a phone call asking would I mind having my name put forward to meet our President Mary McAleese at the Áras an Uachtaráin. I remember making incoherant sounds before the words akin to, I would love to go to the Aras for St Patricks day came out. Over the weeks that followed I waited for the morning post in anticipation. The morning of Tuesday the second of March I was sure the invitation would be on the mat when I went down. Gold embossed harp facing the ceiling, I enjoyed the moment for a few days before I extended an invitation to my guest.
St Patrick Day being a rather busy day nationwide, departure from Wexford was a strategic endeavor. Top up the Fuel, wash the car, find an alternative parking location, away from Wexford’s Parade Route. Listen to the Wexford St Patricks Parade. Eamonn arrived shortly after twelve and we set off for Dublin to arrive at An Aras for 3.30pm
Eamonn in front of Aras an Uactharain
The trip to Dublin was uneventful, a clean run, with a slight detour from the planned route, we arrived at the Pheonix park early. As requested we approached the gate:
(a) no later than the time specified on the invitation.
(b) no earlier than 10 minutes before.
Parking was available in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin.
Waiting for Mary
At our appointed time we were guided into the waiting hall. we spotted a familiar face ahead of us. Ian from ‘Gay Bray’ & pondered on where Vanessa might be, already within?
Meeting The President Mary McAleese & Dr Martin Mcaleese
At the greeting room door while being announced all memory of my pre composed greetings disappeared. We were in the company of Mary McAleesse. We conducted our selves correctly and smiled a lot and some more on top of that. Then posed, there was some giggling over having to give instructions on how to use the camera & we posed again. More hand shaking, smiling then we were directed to the reception room. As the blood returned to my head I realised Eamonn was speaking. We spotted Ian, later Vanessa with her son a ‘head’ above the delegates (well! not her son, so much, until we moved down to that room, he’s somewhat shorter than I, being a young boy)
At the reception Deirdre from Gay Wexford meets Ian from Gay Bray
It’s that fire place we were practically compelled to pose.
That famous fire place
Eamonn at that famous fireplace
Fortified from a buffet ranging from bite sized collcannon, cocktail sausages, hors d’œuvre to geometicly shaped, small sandwiches we attended President Mary McAleese’ address in the Hyde Room. Mary was followed by a recital by Pól O’Muiri, the Master of Ceremonies, of some of his poetry before he introduced the Kilfenora Ceili Band & later the Crosserlough Set Dancers from County Cavan. Each gave a performance of two pieces.
Pól O'Muiri, Master of Cermonies introduces the Kilfenora Ceili Band
President Mary McAleese stands with the Crosserlough set dancers from County Cavan
After the photo shoot all the delegates were given the opportunity to explore the grounds and the public areas of ‘Aras an Uachtarain’. It’s a beautiful example of an Irish interpretation of the architectural styles of the early 2oth Century.
A brief glimpse of ‘Gay Wexford’ meeting of President Mary McAleese & Dr Martin McAleese in the Áras an Uachtaráin on the 17th of March (St Patricks Day) 2011. It was fabulous.
Wexford Shamrock met President Mary McAleese too.
.
Deirdre ní Dhubhghaill is the current & first female chairperson
of 'Gay Wexford' (April 2009 - May 2011). Gay Wexford has catered
to the needs of County Wexford's LGBTF&F since 2005. Providing a safe
social scene, assistance, services and information for Wexford's LGBT.
www.gaywexford.com
Follow
Loading ...
