Mar chuid de chomóradh na hÉireann ar chéad bliain eachtraí cinniúnacha 1916, shocraíomar gur cheart saothar ealaíne poiblí suntasach a chur ar thailte Áras an Uachtaráin, teach cónaithe Uachtarán na hÉireann, mar chomhartha ómóis buan do na fir agus do na mná ar chuidigh a gcuid iarrachtaí agus a n-íobairtí an oiread sin le saoirse na hÉireann, agus bheadh sé ina inspioráid i dtaca leis an ngealltanas, ar tugadh a chreatlach i bhForógra na Poblachta, a fhíorú. Táimid an-sásta le rogha na saineolaithe ar an ngiúiré neamhspleách, is é sin ‘Dearcán na nDaoine – The People’s Acorn’ de chuid Rachel Joynt. Roghnaíodh é mar dhealbh le seasamh do thuras Náisiún na hÉireann ón am atá caite go dtí an lá atá inniu ann, agus i dtreo todhchaí na bhféidearthachtaí gan chuimse agus na bhfreagrachtaí comhroinnte i dtaca lenár gcomhghleacaithe daonna ar an bpláinéad leochaileach seo. Tá ‘Dearcán na nDaoine – The People’s Acorn’ ina sheasamh anois in Áras an Uachtaráin mar chomhartha buan dár dturas comhroinnte i dtreo Poblachta cuimsithí, mar a mbeidh áit ann dúinn go léir agus a mbeimid bródúil as.
An tUachtarán Micheál D. Ó hUigínn As part of Ireland’s centenary commemorations of the momentous events of 1916, we decided that a significant piece of public art should be placed within the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin, the home of the President of Ireland, as a permanent tribute to the men and women whose effort and sacrifice contributed so much to Irish freedom and it would also serve as an inspiration towards realising the promise outlined in the Proclamation of the Republic. We are delighted with the independent jury of experts’ choice of Rachel Joynt’s ‘Dearcán na nDaoine – The People’s Acorn’ as the sculpture to represent the journey of the Irish Nation from the past into the present, and towards a future of limitless possibilities and shared responsibilities towards our fellow humans on this fragile planet. ‘Dearcán na nDaoine – The People’s Acorn’ now stands in Áras an Uachtaráin as a permanent testament to our shared journey towards an inclusive Republic, where we all have a place and of which we all can feel proud.
President Michael D. Higgins
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day
UACHTARÁN NA hÉIREANN President of Ireland
2018
THE UNITED NATIONS
ร ras an Uachtarรกin, Phoenix Park, D08E1W3. @PresidentIRL