Address by Chairperson of Killarney Urban District Council, Michael Gleeson, at the Civic Reception for Officials of F.I.M. Rally 5th July 2001.

A Uachtarain,
Ta an~thas cnn failte a chur romhaibh go dti Ciii Airne. Ta suii again go mbainfidh gach einne an-taitneamh as na leathanta a chaithfidh sibh anseo.

Mr. Presidents, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Killarney and to accord to you this Civic Reception. I do so on behalf of my Councilor Colleagues, our Manager - Tom Curran, our Town Clerk - Camel Brosnan, our Town Engineer - Donal Mangan and on behalf of all the people of Killarney. We sincerely hope that your visit here will be both enriching and enjoyable.

The pursuit of freedom is central to every individual's life. For some it involves political activity, for others it is the aspiration to sporting excellence. For each person it is his or her own chosen way. For you, Ladies and Gentlemen, and for your fellow motorcyclists it is the freedom of the road and the highway. To feel the wind in your face and see the open road ahead give you a sense of liberation from the cares and worries of daily life. Your motorcycles are your gateway not just to freedom but also to beauty. You can access places of quiet splendor, which you share only with the cyclist and the walker.

We in Killarney rejoice in the great natural beauty of our landscape. We ask you to enjoy that splendor of harmony between mountain, valley and lake. We urge you to visit those quiet places where the soothing touch of Nature will refresh you in mind and body. The frenetic pace of modern life can best be counteracted by taking just a little time to hear lake waters lapping with low sound by the shore.
We all know full well that we live in a world where fear, mistrust and violence are far too prevalent. Isolationism is the enemy of peace and harmony. Your international Rally brings together people of all ages and races who have a love for motorcycles. But your Rally also acts as a bridge of unity and international cooperation between different people and different nationalities. It is through dialogue and regular meetings that we grow in understanding and trust of each other and of each other's cultures. Your enjoyment of motorcycles is like all sport in that it transcends time and place. It has universal appeal and serves as a unifying factor not just this weekend but for many years to come.

We wish F.I.M. continued success and we hope that some time in the not too distant future you will return to Killarney. We hope above all else that when your Rally concludes and you face your motorcycles for home that you will do so as a people who have renewed and strengthened friendships and who have enduringly happy memories of your visit to Killarney. Return to Home page.