Tánaiste Micheál Martin addresses National Concert Hall celebration concert

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Lord Mayor Conroy, Ministers, Ambassadors, Guests

Céad míle fáilte chuig an gCeoláras Náisiúnta anocht don cheiliúradh an-speisialta seo ar Lá na hEorpa.

Welcome to tonight’s concert in celebration of Europe Day in this fiftieth anniversary year of Ireland’s European Union membership.

I would like to begin by thanking the National Concert Hall, the European Commission and European Parliament for partnering with my department to host tonight’s gala concert.

I would like to pay particular tribute to the European Commission.

Commissioner McGuinness was due to join me in offering her reflections on Ireland’s EU journey, sadly however she was called back to Brussels at the last moment for official business.

Such last minute schedule changes are an inevitable part of the swings and roundabouts of political office.

But holding office, of course, also comes with many fantastic opportunities.

One which I have come to appreciate is the fact that those who hold office are closer than most in witnessing the great political moments of the day.

This convergence is perhaps one of the stranger facts of political life, because over the course of a political career, the personal history of any individual becomes mirrored in the political history of a country.

My life, as just one example, has been shaped by many such moments.

But the most consequential of those happened long before I had any notion of getting involved in politics.

I was 13 years old when Ireland joined the European Communities.

Change was, initially, hard to notice.

But the aggregate impact of that moment over the course of my career - and my life - has been nothing short of remarkable.

I have seen how the EU has helped us mature, think for ourselves; become better.

There was nothing inevitable about Ireland joining what is now the European Union. When my predecessor Seán Lemass and his government applied for membership, the most common question raised was whether Ireland was just too poor to join.

But he had a deep and unswerving faith in ours as a European country. This faith, this hope for a stronger, more prosperous future prevailed, and the Irish people voted indecisive numbers to put their faith in Europe in the first membership referendum held by any state.

This relationship with Europe has changed how I see myself in the world - and, I believe, how Irish people in general see themselves in the world.

If Ireland’s greatest gift to Europe is proving it works; Europe’s greatest gift to Ireland is the new story we tell ourselves - and about ourselves.

This is what comes to mind when I reflect on my personal experience of the EU.

How that story of who we are has changed.

This evening we have teachers in the audience and if you ask them, I think they’ll tell you what I hear – the stories our young people are telling are European stories.

These are the stories we have heard throughout our EU50 programme, which has sought to celebrate and reflect on our 50 years in the EU.

And I want to thank and congratulate my colleague, Minister for European Affairs and Defence, Peter Burke who has been driving that programme.

Our young people found their voice through the MyEU50 schools and third level competition which saw thousands of students express their vision for Europe.

And our Ár nAmhrán/Our Anthem project, which, through collaboration with a variety of partners including the Department of Education and the Royal Irish Academy of Music has seen students in almost 500 schools learn the European anthem.

The initiative has empowered them to give personal and collective expression to their European identity.

Tonight we will hear that anthem - ‘Ode to Joy’ - in its original splendour as composed by Beethoven two hundred years ago, setting Schiller’s famous poem with its vision of universal humanity, solidarity, and peace in Europe.

It has touched Europeans for two centuries, remaining relevant and inspiring to this day.

Perhaps central to this enduring appeal is that fact that in order to compose it, an almost completely deaf Beethoven had to reflect deeply on the sounds and ideas which had inspired him and a remarkable generation of Europeans.

Adopted as the anthem of the Council of Europe in 1972, and the EU in 1985, ‘Ode to Joy’ symbolises and beautifully articulates the shared ideals at the heart of the European project.

And we are honoured this evening to be joined by Ukrainian Ambassador Larysa Gerasko, whose country and people have done so much to defend these values.

Thank you, Ambassador.

Tonight’s concert complements the thousands of performances of ‘Ode to Joy’ in Irish, English, Ukrainian and other languages by those participating students over the last two days.

I would like to acknowledge my colleague, Minister Norma Foley, here tonight, and to thank her and her department for their collaboration on this project.

Special thanks also to the teachers who championed the initiative, some of whom are also here this evening, and congratulations the students who have learned and performed our European anthem and which is now a life-long asset for each of you.

Europe is first and foremost a union of people.

So. I would like to finish by paying tribute to all the volunteers, community workers and engaged citizens who champion Europe and its values every day across Ireland – many of whom are here tonight.

It is you who forge the people-to-people, cultural, business and civic bonds between Ireland and our European friends.

Here is to the next 50 years of EU membership.

Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as an gceolchoirm.

Go raibh maith agaibh.