Ahern to put peace at heart of historic US speech
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern leaves for Washington from Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel yesterday. Mr Ahern will present a sword belonging to US Civil War general Thomas Francis Meagher to the Friends of Ireland at the US Congress today
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TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern bids an impassioned adieu to the world stage today as the joint Houses of Congress mark his political passing with an expected standing ovation.
Mr Ahern, who will become the first Fianna Fail Taoiseach to make such an address, will use the occasion to mark the achievement of permanent peace in Northern Ireland.
The Taoiseach was continuing to work on his speech last night after arriving by Government jet at Andrews air force base in Washington.
But big occasions also have their downside -- the avid Manchester United fan missed his team's crucial second leg with Barcelona last night because he was still in the air.
Officials said his speech would be a wide-ranging address, reflecting a number of inputs. But Mr Ahern, politician to the last, will also make it his own.
He is expected to offer a boost to the Hillary Clinton campaign by making specific reference to the Clintons' work for a settlement in Northern Ireland.
Mr Ahern will acknowledge the work and risks taken by former President Bill Clinton, thereby giving concrete thanks to a couple he also regards as personal friends.
Among the lengthy expressions of gratitude -- a feature of Mr Ahern's valedictory address to the Dail -- are thought to be respectful references to Senator Edward Kennedy, and to the Friends of Ireland on Capitol Hill, and other peace pioneers.
Envoys
Also likely to be name-checked, according to draft suggestions, are former speaker Tip O'Neill, various US peace envoys, including Senator George Mitchell, and Congressmen Bruce Morrison and Brian Donnelly, who introduced special visa programmes for Ireland.
The Taoiseach will also help history come full circle when he today presents a sword that belonged to legendary Irish general, Thomas Francis Meagher, to Richard Neal of the Friends of Ireland in the US Congress.
Some 45 years ago, during his visit to his ancestral homeland, President John F Kennedy presented to the Dail the battle colours of "Fightin' 69th" brigade, founded by Meagher, which saw action in many of the key battles of the American Civil War.
Thomas Francis Meagher was born in Waterford, and became a revolutionary member of the Young Irelanders, who rose against British rule in 1848. In that year, Meagher devised the Irish tricolour of Green, White and Orange, based on the flag of France, where he had been in exile.
Mainstay
Meagher established the famed 69th Regiment of the New York Militia on the outbreak of the American Civil War, and it became the mainstay of the Irish Brigade.
The Taoiseach is also due to pay a last courtesy call on President Bush today, and the two men may even pose for a farewell handshake at the South Lawn of the White House.
Almost the entire membership of Capitol Hill has been invited to an Irish Embassy bash for the Taoiseach tonight, with a substantial entourage from Ireland also in attendance, including many friends of the Taoiseach such as TDs Donie Cassidy and Cyprian Brady and former Fianna Fail fundraiser Des Richardson, who is slated to give further evidence to the Mahon Tribunal.
- Senan Molony in Washington
