Rev John Corrie and his wife Jan attended a garden party at Áras an Uachtaráin on 9 June 2016 to represent ECI. Below is his report of their very enjoyable day.
It was the 9th June and the garden party was being held to acknowledge individuals and organisations working to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development goals agreed in New York in 2015. We were there as representatives of Eco Congregation Ireland. John is the Methodist representative on the ECI committee. The mixture of guests attending represented farming, business, industry, non-governmental organisations, charities, community groups and individuals. A very wide range of people with a common aim.
The weather was good which made our journey easier and the garden party more fun. In tune with reducing our carbon footprint our journey included: the Enterprise train from Newry to Dublin; Luas from Jervis (Connelly to Jervis was closed for work on the line) to Heuston and then a walk through Phoenix park to register among the other guests – invitation and photo ID required- we then took a shuttle bus to Áras an Uachtaráin. Train, tram, bus and walking. Four low carbon forms of travel in one day!
After arriving we were introduced to Sabina and we were encouraged to wander and enjoy the ground floor of Áras an Uachtaráin and the gardens beyond. We enjoyed the Main Lawn with its formal beds, the Queens Walk with its trees planted by royal visitors and dignitaries who had visited over 150 years and its more recent sculptures, and the Walled Garden with its restored Peach House. As we wandered with the other guests we were entertained by musicians: a pianist in the Drawing Room; a Trad Group and an Irish piper on the Queens Walk and a flautist and harpist in the Walled Garden and more prominently on the main lawn by St. Patrick’s pipe Band from Fermanagh and the Dublin Ukulele Collection.
We were treated to a high tea laid out at tables of eight in a huge marquee complete with candelabra! We were offered canapes, sandwiches, scones and dainty finger desserts. There was plenty on offer and the tea cups were frequently replenished – our idea of heaven! We were sharing a table with a heritage railway group from Dundalk. After the 500 or so guests had finished eating, the President gave a short address, thanking those present for their role in helping Ireland work towards the sustainable development goals set globally. He stressed the need to convert words into actions in relation to these goals and the necessity of addressing climate change at community and individual level and the changes that are needed at the level of political policy, individual action and everything in between. We were told that our island community must change its thoughts, practice and policy.
Pictured are the Rev John and Mrs Jan Corrie in the gardens of Áras an Uachtaráin, guests of President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabrina at a Garden Party.