President Jenkins, President Emeritus Hesburgh, Distinguished Guests I am delighted to be here with you on this St. Patrick’s Day.
Beannachtai na Feile Padraig oraibh go leir.
May the blessings of St Patrick be with you all on this his feast day.
I’m delighted to be here at Notre Dame to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. For Ireland, St Patrick’s Day is a sacred day. A happy day. A day to reflect in our hearts on what it means to be Irish. And on this national day of spirit and commemoration and celebration, in this month which President Obama has generously dedicated to Irish American Heritage, I feel privileged - immensely privileged - to come here to Notre Dame to honour a true son of Ireland Fr Ted Hesburgh. A man of dazzling intelligence.... A man with a quality of mercy..... compassion.... insight....courage and empathy that has for decades left those at the receiving end breathless, grateful.
Irish America
This is my first visit to Notre Dame, renowned the world over as one of the United States’ great centres of faith and learning. It is a rare honour to be here in Notre Dame on St. Patrick’s Day, celebrating with you and with the some 44 million Americans who claim Irish descent and identity. Just as St Patrick’s story is that of an immigrant, so too is the story of America. Fr. Hesburgh’s own grandfather, Martin Murphy, was brought here by his parents in 1857...when he wasn’t even a year old. And through the New York census of 1880 we can glimpse the day-to-day life of the Murphy family....
William Murphy, Fr. Hesburgh’s great-grandfather, lists his occupation as Painter. His wife Margaret “keeps house”. Fr. Hesburgh’s grandfather, Martin, is a Steam Fitter. Like other Irish emigrants of the time they worked hard, they made their living, they educated their children... instilled in them the virtues of hard work, honesty, loyalty and faith.
And Irish America progressed... to the firehouses and school-houses, the convents and seminaries, the trade unions and lecture-halls and courthouses and legislatures.... some all the way to the White House itself.
And in the Murphy-Hesburgh case.....here..... to Notre Dame.
Irish links to Notre Dame
Indeed, the links between Ireland and Notre Dame go way back. One of my own personal heroes, Desmond Fitzgerald, veteran of the 1916 Rising and an Irish Government Minister in the 1920’s, was a visiting lecturer in philosophy at Notre Dame for a period in the late 1930’s.And his son, Garrett Fitzgerald, one of my predecessors as Taoiseach, delivered a number of lectures here in his later years.
This beautiful campus of course also houses the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, one of the pre-eminent Irish Studies programmes in the country. It is the standard bearer for the other Irish Studies Centres which are appearing in increasing numbers across the United States. A credit to all involved.
Fighting Irish
This evening I come here too to give you credit and to thank you for deciding to bring the iconic Notre Dame ‘home’ to Ireland to play Navy in the Fall. I’m told that quantum mechanics are involved in getting the band alone to Ireland. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the AVIVA stadium.
It’s going to be a wonderful occasion.
I can assure you even a Green Niagara Falls is not half as spectacular as the Irish welcome....the Irish hospitality that awaits you all. A trip of a lifetime.
Don’t just come for the game, take Bord Failte’s advice and “Jump Into Ireland”.... you’ll love what you find.
Next year is the year of The Gathering, when we invite our Diaspora home for a year-long series of events. Tonight I’m asking you all to spread the message that there has never been a better time to visit Ireland..... there has never been a better time to come ‘home’.And this evening, Ireland becomes ‘home’ for Fr Ted Hesburgh.
Irish spirit
By building this great Catholic University here in South Bend, by working at the coalface of the great social issues of the 1960’s and 1970’s here in the US, by using his considerable motivational and leadership powers he achieved so much.
And this is the spirit that Ireland it using today, that determination to succeed, to innovate, to imagine, the spirit of The Fighting Irish.
Yes, Ireland faces an unprecedented economic challenge but in the last year, we have made a solid start onto the comeback trail. We have stabilised our public finances and we have begun to restore our international reputation. It’s a long road, but we are determined.
To borrow one of the most famous lines associated with Notre Dame, and more lately of course with President Ronald Reagan, another proud Irishman: “We are going to win this one for the Gipper”.Conclusion
So on this St. Patrick’s Day
2012 in Notre Dame University South Bend Indiana, it is my privilege to present Martin Murphy’s grandson, Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, with his Irish passport, by way of recognition from the Irish Government and the Irish people of a truly great Irish-American figure, of a truly great citizen of the United States and, we are proud to say, of Ireland.
Thank you.
Beannachtai na Feile Padraig oraibh go leir.