Press Release

Mayor’s Christmas Message

Tuesday, 21 December 2004

Derry Mayor Gearoid Ó hÉara has urged Derry people to try to make the “season of goodwill” a year long approach to life. Speaking during his Christmas message Derry’s Mayor said:

“ I have been both honoured and privileged to serve as Mayor and during my term I have been struck by the enormous contribution that thousands of Derry people make daily to improve the lives of people other than themselves. Through charity work, community involvement, sporting organisations and in hundreds of other ways, both large and small, Derry people are thinking about and working for other people. As a Derry man, and as the Mayor of Derry, I want to thank all those people across the city who give so much and ask for nothing in return.”

“ Now, as Christmas approaches the thoughts of many of us turn to our friends and family, and in particular our dear departed loved ones. Each year we go out of our way to make that special effort for others and much more than buying presents or spending money, this is the real spirit of Christmas. It is my hope that this attitude could be promoted all year long and not just at Christmas. The example of all those who work for their communities across the district throughout the year should serve as our role models and I am confident that together we can make a Derry a better place next year that it was this year.”

“ I would like to see a Derry that is more tolerant and understanding of difference 12 months of the year and not just in December and I would like to think we could continue our increased thoughtfulness and goodwill beyond the 1st of January.”

Tá súil agam go mbeidh Nollaig mhaith againn uilig agus go mbeidh meas ag achan duine ar a comharsan ins an bhliain atá romhainn.

“ I would like to think we can make an extra effort for our family, friends, neighbours and just as importantly for strangers everyday and not just Christmas Day. By doing so we could make our lives, and our city, so much better for ourselves and each other and help create a truer picture of Derry than Derry City Beat and others in the media sometimes portray.” The great majority of the young people of our city are a great credit to us and I would like to congratulate them for all the positive things that they do for our city and I hope that all of our young people can enjoy Christmas in a peaceful and festive way.

“ Yet I am also well aware that our city is not perfect. In the year ahead, indeed in the years ahead, we face challenges socially, economically and politically. By working together I am confident that we can transform these challenges into opportunities, and make progress in creating the Derry of Equals that we are all entitled to live in.”

The Mayor concluded:

“There is so much of Derry that we can rightly be proud of. The kindness and hospitality of its people, their generosity and spirit. These are our greatest assets and with them we can build for the future and it is with confidence that I would like to wish everyone in Derry a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

ENDS

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