Warm welcome for President at sunny Delvin

A building which has been the centre of parish life in Delvin for over ninety years was officially re-opened by Her Excellency the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese on Tuesday of last week, March 9.St. Patrick's Hall, Delvin, has been at the heart of community life in "the Valley" since 1832, when it was first opened as the local Catholic church, before being converted into a parish hall and re-opened in 1918.Last year, the hall - located just off Main Street - was completely revamped and brought into the 21st century, under the direction of Rev. Fr. Seamus Heaney (PP, Delvin) and the hard working hall committee.The President, joined by her husband, Dr. Martin McAleese and her aide-de-camp, was greeted by a large crowd already prepared for the occasion by music and dance by local schools, and the Doolin Kane School of Dance.On her arrival, she met with people from a variety of local groups, who set out their stalls to the back of the hall's main court. These groups included Delvin Friendship Club, Delvin Community Education Group, the local Pioneer centre, Delvin Scór, the St. Patrick's Festival Parade Committee, Delvin Community Games, among others.The Master of Ceremonies, Cormac O'Neill, introduced Fr. Heaney, who in turn introduced the President to the people of Delvin. The local parish priest described his delighted at "a very important day for Delvin", and he paid tribute to the community's voluntary groups for their generosity with time and energy."Your visit, a Uachtarán, will be an encouragement to all of them," he said.Mrs. McAleese described the importance of community spirit in these difficult economic times, and she urged the people of Delvin to look to its voluntary and community groups for inspiration and leadership.She congratulated all those who contributed to the redevelopment of the parish hall."We can talk about bricks and mortar, but what really fills the place out is the life that is lived here," the President said, describing the hall as a building which has "lived through many Irelands, and periods of war, rebellion, and indeed peaceful times."Mrs. McAleese said that the example set by those who drove the redevelopment of the hall would allow local children to "discover what it takes to build communities".On behalf of the St. Patrick's Hall Committee, Emily King said that it was "a pleasure and an honour" to welcome the President and her husband to Delvin. Anne Marie Larkin then presented the head of State with a beautiful hamper from South Hill Enterprises.Before leaving Delvin and concluding their visit to Westmeath, Mrs. McAleese and her husband met with a number of people who attended the function.A presentation was then made to Mrs. Ursula King, a long-serving member of the St. Patrick's Hall Committee.Joe Potter, CEO of Westmeath Community Development, outlined the organisation's financial and technical support for the redevelopment of the Hall.Fr. Heaney paid tribute to Thomas Timmons Construction Ltd., the contractors; the architect, Delvin man Barry Williams of Hanley-Taite Design Partnership; the Hall Committee and the parish community for their input into the project.