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www.celtic-connection.com
JUNE 2005
VOLUNTEERS from the Irish Heritage Club and the Seattle Gaels who handled registrations at the reception, pose with President and Dr. Martin McAleese. (L-R) Noreen McCormack, Gerrarda O'Beirne, Heidi Kinsella, Dr. Martin McAleese, Nanci Spieker, President Mary McAleese, Rebecca Fox, Meg Seyler, Barbara Terzieff, Agnes Roche, Alex Terzieff, Sylvia McLaughlin (San Francisco Irish Consulate) and Micheal Keane.
JOHN KEANE, Jim Ray, Charles Hadrann, Mary McGrath, Maureen Peterson, Jack Geraghty, Kerry Lynch and Mary Charles. Jack Geraghty is a former Mayor of Spokane.
FRANKAND CATHERINE Gill, and Suzanne Green.
AT THE MATT TALBOT CENTER, "D"Alex, Board Member Mick McHugh, Dr. Martin McAleese, President McAleese, Center Director Gregg Alex.
DONAL AND MARY McKevitt flank their daughter Megan Tormey and their two-week-old granddaughter.
NIALL KING and Gavan Cunniffe talk with Noel Fahey, Irish Ambassador to the United States.
PRESIDENT MCALEESE with Reverend Barry and Nancy Keating at the Consul General's Irish Community Reception at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel on May 25. Barry is the President of the Irish Heritage Club in Seattle.
DR. MARTIN MCALEESE, President McAleese, John & Bernie McWilliams and Niall King
Visit of President McAleese to Seattle
By DONAL DENHAM Consul General of Ireland Western United States SAN FRANCISCO - First of all, thank you for allowing me space to express my heartfelt thanks to the Irish community of the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain States for the truly Irish welcome extended to Her Excellency Mary McAleese, President of Ireland during her visit earlier this week.
For most of us, that visit was a unique, lifetime experience, never to be forgotten. Her metaphorical embrace of the Irish community and those of Irish heritage at the various events she attended was powerful.
The highlight of her trip, the community reception at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel ballroom, attended by some 600 people, was a moment in history - a gathering so full of emotion and joy that it is impossible to describe in words.
Her own acknowledgement of the Irish of Seattle, and of those who had travelled from Spokane, Portland, Oregon and from as far away as Missoula and Butte, Montana will live forever with me -and, I suspect, with every single person present on the night.
But my main reason for writing is to record my sincere appreciation to all those, both in Seattle and beyond, who helped in so many different ways to make the Uachtaran's visit such a successful, memorable occasion. Who says the Irish can't work well together?
And having spent many hours and days myself, supervising all the many and varied aspects of the requirements of the visit, I know that we could not have made it so without close teamwork and a willingness on everyone's part to respond to the challenge unselfishly.
I won't name individuals - there were many and they know who they are - but I will say that collectively they brought great credit to Ireland and to Irish America.
As Siobhan and myself begin our own preparations to say farewell to this very special part of the U.S., and while pleased about my appointment as the first Ambassador of Ireland to Lithuania, it is also tinged with tremendous sadness and a reluctance to let go of the many friendships we have formed.
If I say that the visit of the President of Ireland to the Pacific Northwest was without doubt the most special, most cherished memory we take away it reflects the great respect and love we have for each and every one of you. Go raibh mile, mile, mile maith agaibh!