Why Irish America owes much to departing president Mary McAleese

Her 9/11 response was among her finest moments in office

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NIALL O'DOWD,

IrishCentral Founder

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Irish President Mary McAleese, center, acknowledges the congregations applause after she was introduced during a mass at New York's St. Patricks Cathedral. Sitting with the President is New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, and Dr. Martin McAleese, left, the President's husband in 2002

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Now that she is stepping down from the presidency after 14 years, a major assessment of Mary McAleese’s time in office is underway.

In a fascinating article in the Irish Times, journalist Deaglan De Breadun examined her record.

“There are few politicians anywhere who could spend 14 years in office and end up more popular than when they started.” Is one of his conclusions – and we can hardly argue with that.

He listed the obvious highlight of the 14 years – the visit of Queen Elizabeth but I think her reception for Barack Obama just the week after was a beautifully choreographed moment too. De Breadun also noted the McAleese response to 9/11 as a major plus.

Her comments on RTE radio, unscripted right after the attacks were eloquent and deeply insightful.
It was not a time for platitudes and McAleese knew it.

She stated: “It’s a crime against the very foundations of all our humanity and our hearts . . . our response to that is and has to be to stand shoulder to shoulder with our American brothers and sisters.”

McAleese had that feel and sense for the Irish abroad in a way that was clearly lacking among many other politicians back in Ireland who mouthed the platitudes but never understood it.

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It was no surprise that 9/11 was still very much on her agenda when she came to New York in March 2002. In fact the best speech I have ever heard from an Irish politician, bar none, was when McAleese spoke at our sister publication, Irish America Magazine’s, event at the Plaza Hotel.

We had cancelled our usual Irish American of the Year celebration and instead went with a tribute to those who lost loved ones on 9/11.

It was clear to us that the city was still grieving after 9/11, none more so that the Irish in the fire and police services who lost so many on those torrid times.

We invited many of the grieving families who turned up in large numbers. The sense of loss, of bravery and courage in the face of such loss was palpable.

McAleese caught the moment brilliantly.

Here is what De Breadun wrote about the occasion. “She caught the public mood….at a function in the ballroom of New York’s Plaza Hotel, which was crowded with grieving relatives and friends of firefighters and police officers of Irish origin who had perished in the inferno at the World Trade Center.

An eyewitness to the occasion, organized by Irish America magazine, recalls the hurt and the anguish that hung like a dark mist over the crowd. McAleese rose to the occasion, reducing even seasoned fire officers and members of “New York’s finest” to tears with her words of comfort and her contention that their Irish forebears “would be proud of a modern generation who have known the easy times and comfort of prosperity but who, when tested, chose the hardest road of all”.

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