I arrived back into Ireland this
morning after 6 busy days in the USA. Yesterday was a great day to be Irish
with millions celebrating St. Patrick’s Day across the globe. My day started
early with the traditional St. Patrick’s Day breakfast with New York Mayor Bill
de Blasio.
Mayor de Blasio presented me with a
Proclamation. In turn I presented him with a copy of a book Elizabeth Billups
from New Mexico and I produced two years ago – Ireland: One Island, No Borders
– which is a mix of photographs from across the island of Ireland mixed with
text by both of us.
I also presented Mayor de Blasio with a special limited edition of
‘Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass – an American Slave’ which has
been published by his direct descendants, Nettie Washington Douglass and her
son Kenneth Morris. Only 711 signed and numbered copies have been produced and
I am grateful to my friend Todd Allen for his generosity in providing it. I
might write more on this later.
Lá Féile Pádraig is an opportunity
each year to thank Irish America and to reaffirm the strong bonds between
Ireland and that very important part of the Irish diaspora. Irish America has
never lost sight of Ireland and the desire for peace and independence, and it
continues to be as supportive of this today as in previous generations.
And then there was the Rugby grand
slam. What a win. What a great day to be Irish.
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