The Malta Independent on Sunday
The Irish celebrate their National Day at Hilton Malta
Icould not go to the opening of the newly refurbished Hilton at Portomaso last year so when invited to the Irish reception there on the 16 March, I was curious to see the new developments. *** I am not overly keen on modern interiors and feared the worst: a sanitized Hilton lacking character. But I soon discovered that this is not the case at all, at least not in those parts of the hotel I walked through. Instead I stepped into a lobby which is light and bright. The use of muted colours provides a relaxing ambience. The beautiful crystle chandeliers add more than a touch of elegance.
Ambassador Pádraig Mac Coscair and Ms Ann Kieran were all smiles and greeting guests in their usual warm way. Yes, nothing like the Irish for warmth. This is one area in which we are similar.
Guests followed all kinds of dress codes, some resplendent in ‘cocktail’ dresses while several men decided not to wear a tie.
There was plenty of that truly Irish beer, Guinness, that evening. I could see glasses of this rich dark tipple, crowned by that delicious froth in every other male hand although there was many a female who was enjoying it, too. I drank plenty of it when I was pregnant.
Our President and Mr Preca mingled with the many guests from all walks of life. It was a convivial and relaxed party with plenty of Irish music and singing, sometimes with guests joining in the singing.
His Excellency the Ambassador who is known for his subtle sense of humor eventually went up on the podium and gave a very relaxed speech, greeting us with ‘Jum San Patrizju it-tajeb!’ adding the Irish equivalent, too complicated for me to write. It seems the Irish have more accents than the French, except that they are all going in one direction.
It is hard to believe that His Excellency and his Madame have already celebrated two St Patrick Days here and that this was their third one.
In his speech, His Excellency briefly touched on just a few achievements and collaborations. He referred to Martello Media’s work on Muza and the Fort Saint Angelo exhibitions.
Martello Media are the internationally award winning exhibition designers. Then there were the Young Irish thespians who came to Malta, for the last four years to participate in the Holqa festival in Junior College, he reminded us. “I could,” H.E. said “if pressed, wax lyrical about the many visits by Irish Naval vessels to the Grand Harbour during their Search and Rescue Operations and the logistical support they received from their Maltese comrades – but I shall not.” For those who did not already know it the Brass Shield of HMS Saint Angelo, a piece of Maltese heritage, was returned to Malta, guests were informed.
His Excellency said there were other examples of help and collaboration between the two countries but he was not going to say more on that subject. He pointed out that the mission of the Embassy in Malta is to create the environment in which these small seeds may grow and flourish. He thanked his colleagues and friends in Malta for their help towards these achievements.
Addressing Madame President, who was looking elegant in black lace worn on slim trousers, he said that Ireland and Malta have much in common and that the Irish and Maltese people are cut from the same cloth. They share the same values, face the same challenges. Moreover, we are committed to, and rely upon, the international rule of law. Our particular histories equip us to play a distinct and unique role on the international stage. His Excellency pointed out that membership of the EU has given Malta and Ireland an opportunity to project our values and to participate in, and contribute to, the Great European project.
H.E. then referred to Malta’s ongoing Presidency of the Council of the European Union and commented that the advances in a number of dossiers under Maltese stewardship are proof of that commitment.
The occasion of the Presidency has also afforded the Irish mission and several others in Malta the pleasure of hosting a representative of a fellow Member State: in the case of the Irish Embassy it was Ivana Zerec of the Republic of Croatia. His Excellency remarked that these gestures of solidarity and fraternal support exemplify what is best about the European Union.
Inevitably Mr Mac Coscair mentioned Brexit and commented on the key issues for Ireland as a result of this withdrawal. How Ireland deals with Brexit will define its future for decades to come, he said. In this context H.E. said that Ireland must remain at the heart of Europe and open to the world; it must protect its hard-won peace and there should be no return to a hard border or creation of a new border of the future. We were all nodding at this of course.
This year, His Excellency concluded, St Patrick’s Day is tinged with sadness with the news of the loss earlier that week of one of Ireland’s Search and Rescue helicopter teams off the west coast of Ireland. Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Mark Duffy, Ciarán Smith and Paul Ormsby lost their lives in the service of their fellow humanity. In an interview about a year ago Captain Fitzpatrick acknowledged that their work was dangerous but she said it was so important that she could not imagine not doing it.
His Excellency considered it appropriate to remember the bravery of his team and the work of the Armed Forces of Malta and Irish Defence Forces in supporting civil society, through search and rescue operations and peacekeeping missions. “We sometimes take for granted the risks our fellow citizens run on our behalf and on behalf of men, women and children throughout the world” he remarked. He added that he was proud to say that cooperation between Ireland’s defence forces in the field of training continues and that earlier this year six members of the Armed Forces of Malta graduated with the Cadet Class in the Curragh in Ireland. He expressed the wish that the Maltese and Irish continue to work to build the future both countries hope for, a future that is rich in shared possibilities.
His Excellency then conveyed the best wishes of President Michael D. Higgins to President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca on this most International of National Days and proposed a toast “to your very good health and that of Mr Preca and the health and prosperity of Malta and the Maltese people.”
Our President then responded to the Ambassador’s speech and commented on the part Malta played to enhance the friendship between these two countries.
We continued to drink, consume canapés and chat away to a soundtrack of Irish music and songs, even if sometimes it got a little too loud.
The invitation said ‘7pm to 9pm’. I wasn’t keeping count but I don’t think there were many who left promptly at 9pm.
The Irish are good at throwing a good party also at enjoying it.
Oscar Wilde Exhibition
This week I visited the Oscar Wilde exhibition organized by the Storm Petrel Foundation in the wonderfully restored house it acquired at 79, Triq San Anton, Attard, in front of Villa Bologna.
I was totally, but totally impressed with the house itself, so elegantly restored, with our guide and with the display and content of the exhibition. I will write about it another time but you simply cannot miss it. The whole experience surpassed all my expectations. The exhibition is open until the end of May. But for obvious reasons you cannot just walk into No 79.
For enquiries please contact: info@stormpetrelfoundation.org