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EXTRACT
FROM SPEECH
BY BRENDAN HOWLIN, AT OFFICIAL OPENING OF EXTENSION OF
BELFORD HOUSE
Sunday
5th October
2008
It
is a wonderful privilege and singular honour to be back
in this unique place. I feel I have been
part of the journey that has brought us here.
That journey, of course, is ongoing – to borrow a
phrase “much done, more to do”.
But
all concerned can be truly delighted with this extension
to Belford House. It is said that “a house is
made of walls and beams, a home is built with love and
dreams”. This place is a home –
built with love from family and community, and dreams
that survive knocks and setbacks.
All
of the wonderful team or family of people who make up
Ard Aoibhinn Services can take enormous pride in what
you have achieved. From that milestone day
in 1995 when Ard Aoibhinn was officially opened – this
wonderful group of people have sought to make things
better for all clients of this service. When
the State didn’t reach the mark, you rolled up your
sleeves and raised your own funding – a process that I
know is both challenging and never ending.
But
the fruit of your labours lies before you – here on
this campus and across the road.
On
behalf of the broad community of Wexford, I thank you
most profoundly for all that you have achieved here.
Today
then is a day of celebration. We rejoice at
the provision of much needed additional living
facilities for Belford’s eight residents.
I’m aware that there are further much needed
facilities planned. In all the talk of
financial doom we have listened to for the last few
weeks, it is vital that basic services for the most
vulnerable are ringfenced and protected.
If
the culture of greed and enormous profit has brought us
to a crisis – let the burden of paying for it fall on
those who profited from it. Those of us in
public life will have the task, in the coming weeks and
months, of ensuring that this is what happens.
I’m
conscious today of absent friends - people
who were part of the Ard Aoibhinn family who have gone
to their reward. Without naming any individual, we
remember them this afternoon and know that they are
cheering us on.
The
understanding of disability has changed dramatically in
recent times. And thank God for that change.
We each now recognise that we are all disabled in some
way. It is only a matter of degree.
We therefore have a common responsibility to support one
another.
In
this democratic Republic – each citizen must be
allowed and be supported to achieve as much as is
possible. Each citizen adds to the sum of
the whole – in all our diversity we make our community
what it is.
Thank
you for inviting me back. I know that I am
inspired by just being here.
Ibsen
said “a community is like a ship, everybody ought to
be prepared to take the helm”.
You
have taken the helm and continue to steer this ship to
ever better places.
It
is my honour to declare this extension to this home
‘Belford House’ officially open. And to
wish joy and happiness to all who live and work here.
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