Der St.Patrick’ Day hat seit den späten 90er Jahren eine Tradition in Wien und Österreich. Wie die Iren sagen, ” we are not here for a long time, but for a good time” steht Lebensfreude, Kultur und Heimweh im Mittelpunkt des Fests. Wir sind ÖsterreicherInnen die in Irland gelebt haben und Iren die in Wien leben und alle die hier eine gute Zeit haben wollen.

President’s Message

UACHTARAN N A hÉIREANN
PRESIDENT O F IRELAND

St. Patrick’s Day 2 0I2

Message from President Michael D. Higgins

I wish to send warm greetings on this St Patrick’s Day to Irish people at home and
abroad and to our wider Irish family around the world.
St Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for the global Irish family, wherever they are
living, to joyously acknowledge our shared heritage and culture and to celebrate
and make our commitment to an Irishness of which we all can be proud. The life
story of St. Patrick is one of perseverance through adversity, generosity
overcoming cruelty and a people being transformed through the power of spiritual
idealism. Just as St. Patrick brought a vision of hope and renewal to his people, we
in our time have our own Aisling – our dream of a better , kinder , fairer shared
world.
In pursuing this dream, we build on firm foundations and draw from old
wisdoms. We Irish are a creative, resourceful, talented and warm people, with a
firm sense of decency and justice . The natural strengths that have built and
continue to enhance our reputation include our community spirit, social
solidarity, rich culture, humanitarian and peace-keeping work abroad and our
powerful bond with the global Irish family. The Irish are a diasporic people and
we are both proud of what they have achieved in their adopted homelands and
grateful for their continuing commitment to their homeland of birth or origin.
On this day, we think in particular of those Irish men and women who, over
recent years, have been separated from their homeland through involuntary
emigration. While wishing them happy and fulfilled lives in their new countries,
we firmly hope that economic circumstances will in time allow them to consider
returning home to Ireland – to their families and friends who cherish them so
dearly.
On St. Patrick’s Day, it is our shared culture that is at the heart of our celebrations
as we come together to enjoy the best of Irish literature, music , dance and
pageantry. The fact that these forms of artistic express ion enjoy international
appeal enhances our sense of joy and pride. Even more joyful is that, in keeping
with the inclusive and generous spirit of St. Patrick, our celebrations
accommodate all ages, all commnities and all ethnicities. Our love for life and
our sense of fun are also constants, as is our core value system that extols pride of
place, community cohesion, intergenerational solidarity and an innate spirit of
hope and optimism.
In celebrating our Irishness, we also remember that the Irish are an enterprising
and resilient people. While navigating very difficult economic conditions, we
refuse to succumb to defeat or fatalism. This indefatigable spirit has in the past
ensured our survival and is now a source of our creativity and purpose. It will
again be a vital force in regenerating a sustainable economy, securing a fairer and
happier society, renewing the Republic and making Ireland a country of which we
can be even more proud.
All of the Irish and those who are with them, wherever they may be and in
whatever circumstances, are in all our thoughts on this day we share with the
world. I wish all of you a very happy and peaceful St Patrick’s Day.

Uachtaran na hEireann
President of Ireland