'Ireland is at peace'
Ahern delivers historic message on highest stage
Outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern acknowledges the applause after concluding his address to the Joint Houses of Congress in Washington, with Senate President Robert Byrd in the background
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IRELAND is at peace. With those four words, Bertie Ahern ended his political career on the highest stage and signalled the hour of his country's coming of age.
Yesterday he followed in the footsteps of three former taoisigh, Garret FitzGerald, John Bruton and Liam Cosgrave, along with two former presidents, Eamon de Valera and Sean T O Ceallaigh, in addressing the US Joint Houses of Congress.
The Taoiseach received a standing ovation as he delivered a message that had eluded them all.
The short sentence brought the assembled leaders of the most powerful country on the planet to their feet.
The Taoiseach's historic address, delivered with dignity, resonated both politically and emotionally with his final audience. They heard Mr Ahern state for the record that Ireland had finally ended centuries of distrust and division.
"On St Patrick's Day, 2008, a few short weeks ago, I came here to Washington. I came with a simple and extraordinary message," he said.
"That great day of hope has dawned. Our prayer has been answered. Our faith has been rewarded."
Turning to Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mr Ahern added: "I am so proud, Madam Speaker, to be the first Irish leader to inform the United States' Congress -- Ireland is at peace."
Mr Ahern will step down as Taoiseach next week after over a decade in power.
On Tuesday, May 6, he will hand his letter of resignation as Taoiseach to President Mary McAleese at Aras An Uachtarain -- but only after officially drawing the veil over centuries of bitter conflict, during a visit to the site of the Battle of the Boyne with the North's First Minister, Ian Paisley.
Mr Ahern's landmark speech in Washington was also a speech about beginnings, about age-old ideals and new opportunities. On a day suffused with a restrained but unmistakable sense of history, Mr Ahern, the first Fianna Fail Taoiseach to address the Joint Houses of Congress, basked in the glow of no fewer than nine separate interruptions of applause.
Mr Ahern chose not to dwell on personal satisfaction. Instead he selflessly drew on the emotion of his reception to point a paternal road ahead, based on a wisdom long matured in national politics and on the world stage.
He asked all who heard him to re-dedicate themselves to the great task of bettering humanity: "So -- let us begin," the Taoiseach said as he stood down from the podium to yet another standing ovation.
Mr Ahern's historic address ended as it began.
Mobbed
The Taoiseach entered the chamber mobbed by well-wishers and welcomed by rapturous applause. His proud daughter Cecelia looked down from the visitors' gallery.
As Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi formally introduced "His Excellency Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach and Prime Minister of Ireland," the assembly rose to its feet again.
The speech was at times flat in places, monotone in delivery. It reminded us that the man who has led this country for almost 11 years is at heart an ordinary man.
But the themes he addressed were universal, repeatedly bringing his distinguished audience to their feet.
The first interruption of applause came after Mr Ahern introduced himself as "a proud son of Ireland", but also as a steadfast friend of the United States. He compared the shared experiences and ideals of Ireland and the United States, twin republics, one great, one small.
"When we needed true champions of peace, when we needed true friends, when we needed inspiration, we found them here. We found them among you," he said. "Today, as I stand before you in this great democratic assembly, I struggle to convey the enormous good that was done by so many people in my country, with your help," he said.
"Do not underestimate the good you have done. Do not forget the legacy you have forged. And if ever you doubt America's place in the world, or hesitate about your power to influence events for the better, look to Ireland.
"Look to the good you have done. Look at the richness of so many individual futures that now stretch out before us for generations, no longer subject to conflict and violence. Look to the hope and confidence that we now feel on our island. The healing of history."
Mr Ahern also made an impassioned plea for recognition of the plight of Irish illegals in America, which drew a second standing ovation.
The 35-minute address was punctuated by sustained periods of applause throughout and drew a warm reaction from the assembled US Senators and Congressmen.
At the end, he bowed in the gusts of applause, waved, shook hands with Madame Speaker, descended the dais, and wandered among the well- wishers.
There was a handshake for 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry. A bear hug for Senator Ted Kennedy.
"It was a magnificent speech. It was extraordinarily well received," Senator Kennedy said afterwards.
"Everyone was very happy to be able to express our appreciation to him for the wonderful contribution that he has made to the US-Irish relationship, his role in the peace process, and in terms of economic opportunities."
It was the crowning achievement of a glittering political career, but Mr Ahern avoided the temptation to indulge himself on what he described simply as "a proud day for Ireland".
"And obviously a nice day for me," he finally conceded.
- Senan Molony Deputy Political Editor in Washington
