Galway Advertiser 1991/1991_11_21/GA_21111991_E1_032.pdf 

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President Robinson Pays frifi
GALWAY--"A YOUNG CITY

T

he inauguration of t h e G a l w a y C h a m b e r of C o m m e r c e a n d I n d u s t r y ' s b i centennial last S a t u r d a y night b e g a n i n both a festive and solemn mood w h e n U a c h t a r a n na h E i r e a n n M a r y R o b i n s o n w a s g r e e t e d at t h e E y r e S q u a r e C e n t r e w i t h t r u m p e t s f r o m t h e B a n d of t h e W e s t e r n C o m m a n d . It w a s entirely fitting that t h e impressive ceremony w a s conducted under the r e c o n s t r u c t e d walls of t h e o l d m e d i e v a l city. The President was accom panied by the Mayor Dr. Michael Leahy, the City's Sword and Mace, the 15 member City Council, all in robes and the President of the Chamber of Commerce Mr. Jirr Sweeney and his wife Ann. Four hundred guests, representing the business and industrial life of the City, watched the ceremony either from the main concourse area or from the first floor which overlooks the old City Wall. Although the organisers of the event were warned that President Robinson could only remain for exact ly one hour, she easily over ran her schedule. She presented her speech in a friendly and relaxed way and won warm applause. She said that as President she felt the need to be "geographically fair" when she was deciding on the events she would attend. And she made no apology for the "Pull West" which she felt at regular intervals.

"There was always an ex cellent excuse to come back to Galway", she said, "it's a young City close to my heart." Linkage In praising the Chamber's bicentennial achievements, the President said she was very aware of the impor tance of "Linkage". She liked the idea that the Chamber began its life as an Amicable Society where the original eighty members, both Catholic and Protes tant, were concerned with building a library to use as a forum to discuss the sciences and literature. President Robinson recall ed that at her recent visit to America a memorable period was spent in Boston at the Galway/Derry trade exhibition. She con gratulated the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for "projecting modern Ireland" and the links they forged with the Communities. In Los Angeles she at

tended a function hosted by the Legal Association and was delighted "to meet so many graduates from Galway University. "I was conscious in the U.S. that on so many occassions I was meeting an extension of the Irish family", she said. "We all have to be very imaginative to emulate the spirit of the original Amicable Society to ensure that all the young people who would like to remain in Ireland should be allowed to do s o " . The President was presented with two books to mark her visit: a specially bound volume of Hardiman's History of Galway and a copy of Peadar O'Dowd's and Brendan Lawlor's Galway, Heart of the West. President Robinson conveyed she enjoyed books. She recalled that on a recent visit to U.C.G. she received five books of poems, all by local poets, four of which were by women.

I

A Room with a View...

n

...and Room for a Few!
Overlooking Bay the m a p s tie G a l waySouthern in Within the hotel y o u will the ambience hard to resist. >f C M a U e y s (Not to find p u b

Comb G r e a t

H o t e l offers excellent facilities a panoramic setting a n d

mention

extends

t h e fine fare i n o u r

restauarant). to

a h e a r t y w e l c o m e t o o n e a n d all. O u r newly opened c e n t r e c a t e r s for u p conference to 1,000

W e will a l w a y s w o r k h a r d

m a k e y o u feel w e l c o m e , a n d w e look forward to your visit.

d e l e g a t e s or w e c a n c a t e r f o r groups as small as tenor twenty ^ G R E > T visual SOUTHERN for

a n d provide stare of t h e art

Chamber of Commerce and Industry director Jarlath Feeney pictured with his wife Eileen j attending Saturday nights Bicentennial Gala.

lighting, s o u n d a n d a u d i o facilities.

just w h a t y o u ' v e b e e n l o o k i n g

DUBLIN ROAD GALWAY TM (0*1) 552S1

President Mary Robinson receives a presents Jim Sweeney to mark her inauguration of t

BANK OF GALWAY C J
NOW
TONY BRODERICK Manager -- U.C.G. Galway DERMOT GAYNOR Manager -- Industrial Street Galway J O H N GIBBS Manager -- Salthill Galway JIMMY McGLENNON Manager -- Business Centre Galway

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