'Growing neighbourliness' bodes well

PRESIDENT'S PARTYPEOPLE NORTH and South "have begun to lose their awful, deep-seated mistrust to a growing neighbourliness that augurs well for the future," President Mary McAleese told guests at an Áras an Uachtaráin garden party marking the Twelfth of July.

In the 10 years since the first such commemoration at the Áras "our context has changed", Mrs McAleese told some 350 guests from various traditions and parts of the island.

"Williamite and Jacobite work together in government in Northern Ireland," she said, adding that the relationship between Britain and Ireland "is the best it has ever been in history and keeps getting better".

Among those gathered to commemorate the events of 1690 were "people who never in their lives thought they would stand in this house", Mrs McAleese said, encouraging them to "shake the hand of a stranger you didn't know and go away with their story".

She reminded guests that Áras an Uachtaráin was once the Viceregal Lodge and home of the governor general, a place that had "a big history . . . made of many diverse elements".

In attendance at the reception were PSNI chief constable Sir High Orde and his partner Denise Weston; British ambassador to Ireland David Reddaway; General Officer Commanding of the British army in Northern Ireland, Major Gen Chris Brown; and the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy with his wife Anne.

Also at the party were representatives from various Orange lodges, the Ulster Farmers' Union, the Ulster Reform Club, church representatives and a couple of scarlet-coated Chelsea pensioners.

Speaking about the "events of 300 years ago" that "cast a long shadow" the President said: "For so long the children of Williamite and Jacobite have been characterised as enemies . . . Yet many lived as good neighbours and friends. Maybe the truth is that not enough of us were good friends to one another. We have paid a terrible price."

A Lambeg drummer playing the instrument traditionally heard at Orange Order parades was one of many entertainers. Among the joint performances representing both traditions were the British army's Band of the King's Division playing with the pipers of the Irish Defence Forces.

A group of orange-sashed dancers and green-clad dancers made peace with each other in a performance by the Ballynafeigh School of Irish Dancing from the Ormeau Road.

Thanking the guests for coming, the President said: "We have one common agenda, to bequeath to our children a different mood, for them to be the inheritors of what we want to build."