Reception for President of Ireland Mary McAleese

Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, Apr 30th, 2007

President McAleese entering Reception Hall followed by her husband Dr Martin McAleese

Mary Patricia McAleese (Irish: Máire Pádraigín Bean Mhic Ghiolla Íosa), is the eighth, and current, President of Ireland. McAleese was born Mary Patricia Leneghan (Irish: Máire Páidrigín Ní Lionnacháin) in Ardoyne, Belfast. Her family were forced to leave the area during the Troubles. She was educated at St. Dominic's High School, the Queen's University of Belfast (graduated 1973), and Trinity College. She was called to the Northern Ireland Bar in 1974 and is a member of the Bar in the Republic of Ireland today. In 1975, she was appointed Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology at Trinity College. The following year, she married Martin McAleese. In 1979, she joined RTÉ (the national television service) as a journalist and presenter, at one point working as a reporter and presenter for their 'Today Tonight' program. In 1981, she returned to the Reid Professorship, but continued to work part-time for RTÉ for a further four years. McAleese was a member of the Catholic Church Episcopal Delegation to the New Ireland Forum in 1984. In 1987, she returned to Queen's University to become Director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. In the same year she stood, unsuccessfully, as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the general election.

During the next decade, prior to becoming president in 1997, McAleese also held the position of Director of Channel 4 Television, Director, Northern Ireland Electricity, Director, Royal Group of Hospitals Trust, founding member of the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas, and the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Queen's University of Belfast. She was also a delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Trade and Investment in Ireland, the subsequent Pittsburgh Conference and a member of the Catholic Church delegation to the North Commission on Contentious Parades in 1996.

On 11 November, 1997, she was inaugurated as the eighth President of Ireland, the first time in history that a woman had succeeded another woman as an elected head of state anywhere in the world. In 2004, she stood unopposed, with no political party affiliation, and was re-elected for a second term. McAleese has said that the theme of her presidency is "building bridges". The first individual born in Northern Ireland to become President of Ireland, President McAleese is a regular visitor to Northern Ireland, where she has been warmly welcomed by both communities, confounding the critics who believed she would be a divisive figure. You cannot build bridges and not suffer the occasional suspicion and criticism from members of both opposing sides.

Her speech at the reception was filled with warmth, intelligence, and Irish humor and charm. She spoke enthusiastically of the ties that bind Atlanta to the prosperity and hope of Ireland today, calling to mind her attachment as a young woman to the message of Dr Martin Luther King. Her visit to Atlanta took her to Coca Cola, which she lightly noted that she did not need to introduce to the Irish as Coke's top executives are "Irish", to the halls of Georgia Tech and Emory University, and to the King Center. The reception was attended by Irish and Atlanta regional notables and community, including a strong contingent from Savannah.

Her speech impressed me with the hope that we can offer Ireland as a shining example to other strife torn countries. If we can lay aside those ideas and beliefs that separate us and concentrate on those that we share, then we may also have the chance to stop the terror and blood for a promise of prosperity and peace. Ireland may no longer be on the front page of our liberal news, crowded out by scenes from Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, and other plague torn regions, but the struggle for a united Ireland goes on in the hearts of its people and in the halls of its politicians.

the back of me own head as I work my way thru the reception line

I would also call for a commitment to this process, a renewal and re-invigoration of such organizations as the Ulster Project, for the hope of tomorrow is with our children. We may have to force old men to the table to talk but we should educate our children to come willingly and enthusiastically. We may not all come from the Emerald Isle, but we are all Irish at heart.

Jim Gaffey

Ed Moran and daughter Susan

a very pregnant Lisa Edwards

Katherine Irwin Thomas