Thank you Tom for inviting me here this evening. I am delighted to welcome so many of you to the opening of this new Gallery space at Farmleigh.
It is hard to believe that it is over four years since I performed the opening ceremony here. So much has happened since then.
Farmleigh is a showcase of Irish talent. It has proved a most attractive venue for a whole range of functions. The programme to date has included art, music, cooking and other cultural experiences, all open free of charge to the public. It is no surprise therefore that visitor numbers have been consistently high, topping 500,000 by mid-summer this year.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the Office of Public Works who have always ensured that the facilities and services offered to visitors here are marked by excellence and quality.
The inaugural exhibition of this new gallery - Making Time - has an unusual but extremely apt theme. As you know, this year marks the one-hundreth anniversary of what is termed Albert Einstein’s miraculous year. In short, it was the year when physics was turned on its head. Those involved in the subject had to begin revising their ideas on space and time. This was because of the revolutionary findings of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity. Accordingly, the UN, along with a whole host of institutions worldwide, has described this year as the International Year of Physics.
Making Time is an artistic celebration of that wonderful discovery and I want to thank its curator, Adrian Kelly of the Glebe House & Gallery in Donegal. The exhibition includes many key international works, which makes it particularly attractive to art lovers far and wide. The Special Theory of Relativity is a difficult subject in science – let alone to capture it in art form! From what I can see today however, you have more than risen to the challenge.
The best exhibitions speak to all people, from families on a day out to those with a very high level of academic interest in the subject. And I have no doubt that Making Timewill speak to all those who visit Farmleigh.
It will enable people to explore a fascinating area of science in another form and I hope that it will stimulate further discussion and interest in this subject.
I would like to acknowledge a number of people for helping to make the opening of this Gallery such a success. My thanks go to Minister Parlon, Seán Benton and Commissioner David Byers. They have all taken a special interest in creating a dynamic role for Farmleigh in the cultural life of Dublin city. Manager Mary Heffernan and her team ensure that this house is run to the highest standards.
And I want to pay tribute to the Design Team and all those who have carried out the refurbishment of the gallery. You have ensured the development of a very attractive exhibition space here – a space that will bring many more visitors to admire the house and its grounds over the years. I am delighted to see that quality refreshments will be offered to exhibition goers at the popular Bar Italia outlet as well.
It was always the intention that the State and public roles of Farmleigh would complement each other. As the premier place of hospitality for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation, Farmleigh plays an important role in fostering warm relations between Ireland and other countries. In recent years, there have been many distinguished guests staying here.
These have included their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, the Premier of China, the Secretary General of the United Nations and Prime Minister Blair to name but a few. Perhaps the most important diplomatic service the house has rendered was to play host to the 28 Heads of State on the 1st of May last year. This marked the accession of the ten new states into the EU during Ireland’s Presidency.
This coupling of international State business and a vibrant public cultural programme, enables all people to enjoy the splendour of this house. And the new Gallery space will enable further international cultural engagement. This is something we all welcome. I know, for example, that the British Ambassador Mr. Stewart Eldon, is arranging to exhibit a selection of artworks from the British Art Collection here next year. This should bring great interest from art lovers around the country.
Joint ventures with other countries will also be actively pursued. And there will be a focus on Irish Exhibitions from cultural bodies. The Craft Council of Ireland and the Letterfrack School of Furniture are just a few in the pipeline! It is our vision that Farmleigh will continue to foster partnerships with organisations committed to making our capital a vibrant and inclusive modern city.
In creating this new facility at Farmleigh, I am confident that the Gallery will contribute significantly to the cultural landscape of the city of Dublin and beyond.
I hope you all enjoy this exhibition. And make sure to spread the good news that Making Time will extend to the end of October.
Thank you.
ENDS