President Mary McAleese has praised Limerick City and County Arts Offices for enhancing public appreciation of and access to the arts.
Addressing the Association of Local Authority Arts Officers’ (ALAAO) annual conference in Dublin this week, the President said that the work of local authority Arts Officers had helped enhance the “unique universal reach and appeal of Irish arts and culture”.
Addressing conference delegates, President McAleese said: “The world of arts is woven so tightly into everyday Irish life that it would be easy to take it for granted but on this day and in this company I want to thank you for all you do to keep Ireland curious about the arts and confident in the arts, for making them the opposite of elitist and for bringing the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the arts into the lives of all our citizens.”
In acknowledging the work of Arts Officers, the President commended the role of City and County Councils, adding: “Each City and County Council plays a frontline role in cultivating an embedded arts culture and in creating access to the arts. Arts Officers are the hands and heads of that work. Your investment is what helps to give us a healthy, vibrant and resilient civic society.”
Commenting on President McAleese’s speech, Joan Mac Kernan, County Arts Officer, Limerick County Council, stated: “'For all of us who work in the arts at local and national level, the President’s words and sentiments inspire and impress with her feel and understanding of what the arts mean and can mean for our society.”
“I think the President has brought a new and much needed energy to this debate and highlighted the really positive role that the arts play in the lives of people. She has enthused and reignited the passion and commitment that is at the heart of the work of local authority arts offices”, added Ms. Mac Kernan.
Speaking about the President’s visit, Rosaleen Molloy, out-going Chairperson of the ALAAO, commented, “The Association was privileged to have had President McAleese as our guest of honour for our 2009 conference. Local Authorities are central players in leading the development of the arts in Ireland and in just under 25 years since the appointment of Ireland’s first Arts Officer, the bourgeoning of the arts across the country has been one of the most significant and successful measures integrated into local government in recent times.”
In thanking President McAleese, Mr. John Tierney, Manager, Dublin City Council and City & County Manager’s Association representative, remarked how the President’s presence marked “a very proud, a very prestigious and a very pivotal moment in the history of Ireland’s Local Authority Arts Services”. Mr. Tierney also noted that the President’s address brought “well-deserved recognition to the immensely challenging work of Arts Officers”, but also highlighted “the tremendously positive impact that Local Authorities have had on the development of the arts in Ireland over the past quarter of a century”.
For further information on the Limerick County Arts Office, contact Joan Mac Kernan, Arts Officer, Limerick County Council on 061 496498 or arts@limerickcoco.ie
Addressing the Association of Local Authority Arts Officers’ (ALAAO) annual conference in Dublin this week, the President said that the work of local authority Arts Officers had helped enhance the “unique universal reach and appeal of Irish arts and culture”.
Addressing conference delegates, President McAleese said: “The world of arts is woven so tightly into everyday Irish life that it would be easy to take it for granted but on this day and in this company I want to thank you for all you do to keep Ireland curious about the arts and confident in the arts, for making them the opposite of elitist and for bringing the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the arts into the lives of all our citizens.”
In acknowledging the work of Arts Officers, the President commended the role of City and County Councils, adding: “Each City and County Council plays a frontline role in cultivating an embedded arts culture and in creating access to the arts. Arts Officers are the hands and heads of that work. Your investment is what helps to give us a healthy, vibrant and resilient civic society.”
Commenting on President McAleese’s speech, Joan Mac Kernan, County Arts Officer, Limerick County Council, stated: “'For all of us who work in the arts at local and national level, the President’s words and sentiments inspire and impress with her feel and understanding of what the arts mean and can mean for our society.”
“I think the President has brought a new and much needed energy to this debate and highlighted the really positive role that the arts play in the lives of people. She has enthused and reignited the passion and commitment that is at the heart of the work of local authority arts offices”, added Ms. Mac Kernan.
Speaking about the President’s visit, Rosaleen Molloy, out-going Chairperson of the ALAAO, commented, “The Association was privileged to have had President McAleese as our guest of honour for our 2009 conference. Local Authorities are central players in leading the development of the arts in Ireland and in just under 25 years since the appointment of Ireland’s first Arts Officer, the bourgeoning of the arts across the country has been one of the most significant and successful measures integrated into local government in recent times.”
In thanking President McAleese, Mr. John Tierney, Manager, Dublin City Council and City & County Manager’s Association representative, remarked how the President’s presence marked “a very proud, a very prestigious and a very pivotal moment in the history of Ireland’s Local Authority Arts Services”. Mr. Tierney also noted that the President’s address brought “well-deserved recognition to the immensely challenging work of Arts Officers”, but also highlighted “the tremendously positive impact that Local Authorities have had on the development of the arts in Ireland over the past quarter of a century”.
For further information on the Limerick County Arts Office, contact Joan Mac Kernan, Arts Officer, Limerick County Council on 061 496498 or arts@limerickcoco.ie
