Our morning correspondent is Nina Touraji:
Hello, everyone! Today is day ten in Ireland, and everyone is very excited because we’re going to meet the President of the Republic of Ireland, Mary McAleese. She is the first female leader to succeed another woman. Needless to say, this invitation was very prestigious.
Our day began with an 8 o’clock wakeup knock and everybody hustling through the dorms to look their best. The boys wore suits while the girls were in dresses and heels. We boarded our coach bus and settled in for around a two hour ride to Dublin. It is interesting to note that a direct route to Dublin from Belfast does not exist because of past disunity. However, while we were on the bus passing from Northern Ireland, a country in the United Kingdom, to the Republic of Ireland, the border consisted of a solid line on the road changing to a broken line. This, we were told, was a huge improvement from the armed guards which had previously been stationed between the two countries. These changes showed me how much further the peace process has progressed.
When we reached Dublin, ahead of schedule, we passed through Phoenix Park, the largest national park in Europe situated in the middle of a big city. The only people who live in this park are the President herself and the American ambassador. This park was also the location where the Pope said Mass for over a million people when he visited the Republic of Ireland.
In preparation for meeting the President, we were given a few pre-arrival facts about our visit. We were, first and foremost, told that meeting her was never a guarantee because there may always arise an important event which could whisk her away, like a funeral or a national crisis. This did not, however, discourage any of us from believing that we would meet her. President Mary McAleese, we were told, was a lawyer before she was President and her husband was a dentist, although he no longer practices. What else was very exciting about our visit was the fact that, after meeting with us, President McAleese would be meeting with ambassadors from Belgium, France, and Sweden throughout the day. This put into perspective how prestigious our invitation was, and it was also really cool!
When our bus was pulling up to the entrance gates to the President’s house, we were told that her residence was named Áras an Uachtaráin, or House of the President. While she is inside her residence, there would be a blue flag with a golden harp raised above the building. This would be a positive sign because it meant we would be allowed to meet her! Everyone was confused at first when our bus was turning away, but Raymond consoled us by saying that we were only early and had some time to kill at a nearby coffee shop.
In the tiny café in the middle of Phoenix Park, everyone had a little something to snack on before going back to the bus. This was also, for most people, our first experience with euros. When we were all back on the bus, we entered the gates to the President’s home. Two surprises awaited us when we entered. One was that there was very little security. I thought we were going to be searched and identified, but all I saw were the President’s unarmed security guards at the entrance gate. The second surprise was the herd of cows in the pasture across from the main building which, I must say, resembled the White House in many ways. These cows, though, were the national herd and were pampered year-long. They were not for eating!
Upon entering the house, everybody signed the guest book. This was very exciting because, only pages ahead of where we signed, was the signature of Ian Paisley, the former First Minister of Northern Ireland. Next, we followed one of her guards down a hallway into a larger great room where we were told the President usually met with important guests. The room used to be a ballroom and was created for Queen Victoria many years ago. Before President McAleese arrived, we were lined up around the border of carpet. We were told to address her as “President” and we were not to ask her for individual photographs because she had limited time with us.
When she entered, President McAleese shook each of our hands as we introduced ourselves to her. She was very courteous and it was a real honor to meet her. After posing for a quick group photo, we gathered in an adjacent room and were served tea and biscuits. We then gathered around her as she answered some questions from our group. What I found most interesting was that President McAleese has invited Queen Elizabeth II to visit Áras an Uachtaráin in about a year. She said that this was a huge step because it was the head of state from Britain to visit the Republic of Ireland since it had been partitioned. This was a huge step for reconciliation between two countries which are so close to each other. Another interesting statement she made was that it is harder to persuade her constituents to side with her than her opposition. This was remarkable because Gerry Adams had said virtually the same thing when we met with him. President McAleese was extremely gracious and we were disappointed when she had to be whisked away for other more pressing issues.
Our afternoon correspondent is Vince Matia:
After our visit with the President of Ireland, Her Exellency Mary McAleese, we were given a tour of the President's home, Áras an Uachtaráin. We started our tour in the room in which we had our meeting, the State Dining Room. Our lovely tour guide, Captain O'Mahony, told us the interesting history of the house.
The State Dining Room was built in 1849 for a visit by Queen Victoria. The original fireplaces in the dining room had been taken away by one of the Lords Lieutenant (apparently it was the custom for a departing Viceroy to take whatever he wished from the house) and replaced with functional marble pieces. The table at which our tea and biscuits were served was made in 1927 and was formerly the Cabinet Table in Leinster House and was brought to the Áras by Eamon de Valera in 1960. The first meeting of new governments is usually held around this table after Ministers have been appointed by the President. The first President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde, and his seven successors lived in the house. And after they left office their portraits were displayed here. The same goes for the bronze busts of each of the presidents which are displayed in the Francini Corridor once they have left office.
The next room we saw was the State Reception Room, where we had met President McAleese. It was formerly the ballroom and dates from 1802. The original immense area rug is in this room and was handwoven in Donegal. Its centerpiece depicts the phoenix rising from the flames and the four heads on each corner represent the principal rivers of Ireland. The work was carried out on the original looms by descendants of those who made the original carpet. The English name of Phoenix Park comes from the Irish fionn uisce meaning "clear water,” but the name was Anglicized over time and evolved into the word phoenix. Since then the Phoenix has been used as a symbol in the house.
The Francini Corridor runs along the side of the State Reception Room and was originally used as the orchestra pit for the ballroom. The other side features Italian scuptures showing classical images; these were cast from originals in Riverstown House in Cork.
The Council of State Room is part of the original house, built in 1751, and is now generally used as a reception room. Originally a dining room, it had been fitted up as a billiard room. Its ceiling is part-gilded, unusual in Ireland. It depicts scenes from Aesop’s Fables: on the long sides, the Fox and the Stork, while the figures on the short sides show the Fox and the Crow, and the Fox and the Grapes. The couch and the chairs are replicas of Louis XIV furniture. The painting is of the first meeting of the Council of State, the President’s advisory body. The other paintings in this room are 18th and 19th century landscapes on loan from the National Gallery.
The State Drawing Room, located behind the south portico, is part of the 1751 house, and its ceiling dates from then. The marble coffee table was commissioned for President Bill Clinton's visit in 2000 and is commonly called the Bill Clinton Table. There is also a Steinway grand piano. Mr. Lennon and Ryan Brown serenaded us with some tunes while we were there.
The gardens, in the original front of the house, are maintained by the park staff there. Most of what they can grow or produce there, they do. Almost all of the fruits, vegetables and flowers are made on the property. It is customary for each head of state who visits Áras an Uachtaráin to plant a tree to represent their visit. Most of the trees planted are along the driveway leading to the house. Three, however, are in the front garden. Queen Victoria's tree is extremely large and takes up a lot of the view of the garden. Pope John Paul II's tree is average sized since his visit in the ‘70s. President John F. Kennedy visited on June 27, 1963. Sadly, the tree planted by President Kennedy is very sickly and is currently under close watch and care.
We left the Áras an Uachtaráin and waited outside for our bus to pull up and drive us home. Most of us took the opportunity to take some pictures around the lovely building and fountain. As the bus pulled up, we counted to make sure everyone was ready to go. But there was one problem. We were missing Sarah. We looked around outside for her and could not find her. Someone suggested that she might have gone to the toilet. Ms. Duarte and Emily went back to the front door and knocked to see if it would open or if someone would answer. The door was, unfortunately, locked. But they did hear.....”Emily? Emily? Is that you?” coming from inside the door.
For added security measures the doors to Áras an Uachtaráin are locked from the inside. One problem, they stay locked. Once locked, the doors won't open either way. Sarah had gone to the restroom just before we left, and when she came back no one was there to unlock the door. She then wandered around the stately home looking for anyone to help or for another way out. Yet again, no one came to her aid. Meanwhile in the security room, the guards (and our tour guide) were laughing at the new entertainment that had wandered onto their security cameras. Poor Sarah. After a little bit, our guide came to her rescue and unlocked the door for Sarah.
This time we all boarded the bus and took the two hour ride back home. Because we were starving we stopped at McDonald's for lunch. Good thing to know, a Big Mac is the same no matter where you go!
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