[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
[June 13, 1996]
[Pages 907-908]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Welcoming President Mary Robinson of Ireland at Fort Myer, 
Virginia
June 13, 1996

    President Robinson, Mr. Robinson, members of the Irish delegation. 
On behalf of the American people, let me begin by saying to President 
Robinson, Ceade mile failte, a hundred thousand welcomes.

    It is a pleasure for me to return the tremendous hospitality that 
greeted Hillary and me and our American delegation on our visit to 
Ireland last fall. It is difficult to imagine being better received 
anywhere in the world than I was on Dublin's Green. It was a day that I 
will never forget. And I hope that President Robinson and the Irish 
delegation will feel just as welcome here in America today.

    Since its first appearance in the annals of world history, Ireland 
has been a light unto nations. When darkness shrouded Europe 1,500 years 
ago, the learning of the Irish pierced the gloom. And Irish wisdom has 
continued to illuminate Western thought throughout the ages, from Saint 
Patrick to Swift to Yeats to Heaney.

    In recent centuries, Ireland has sent the most brilliant gift of all 
to the world, the gift of its children. No nation has gained more than 
ours from the energy and determination these immigrants have carried 
with them when they departed Ireland's shores. Today, one of every six 
Americans claims Irish heritage. And even the awareness our Nation owes 
to the unwavering spirit of the Irish has brought to our country more 
than we can ever calculate.

    President Robinson, you have spoken so eloquently about the extended 
Irish family abroad and of an Irishness that transcends territory. It 
gives us all great joy that today this Irish family is one.

    In our time, Ireland's beacon shines as brightly as ever and, as in 
the beginning, it shines to the highest values of civilization. 
Ireland's devotion to building peace has made a small nation a great 
example for all the world. In its steadfast search for a just settlement 
in the North, Ireland has spared no effort and never faltered before 
taking a risk for peace.

    The road to peace is almost never straight, and we've all felt the 
setbacks along the way. But just as Ireland has responded to the voices 
of hope in the North, so has America. Today I reaffirm my pledge to the 
people of Ireland: We will do all we can to help to realize the bright 
future of peace that is the birthright of every child of Ireland, North 
and South.

    As they do at home, the Irish stand for peace in many distant lands. 
Every single day for almost four decades, Irish troops have been 
stationed abroad to preserve the peace in such places as the Congo and 
Somalia. At this moment they serve in nine different peacekeeping 
missions. And in Bosnia, members of the Irish Garda are training police 
so that that nation can rebuild itself and, by itself, maintain its 
peace growing now within the borders.

    The United States and Ireland are bound by ties of kinship and 
friendship, commerce and culture. Above all, we share the bonds of 
belief, the determination to see peace take root and freedom prevail all 
around the world. Today we celebrate these ties. We resolve to 
strengthen them and to work together to see our common hopes realized 
and the lives of our citizens improved.

    This is a happy day for America because in the hearts of so many 
Americans we have a special place for Ireland, and because we know that 
when we work with Ireland, we can make the world a better place.

    President Robinson, welcome to the United States.

[[Page 908]]

Note: The President spoke at 10:28 a.m. at Summerall Field. In his 
remarks, he referred to President Robinson's husband, Nicholas Robinson.