Time for Ireland to Celebrate

EU Talent Day is on Saturday 9th April

This has been declared by Hungary which currently holds the Presidency of the European Union, but it is up to each individual country to make its mark. Despite our small size, Ireland has a rich history of talent in many fields. We absolutely must take this opportunity to show ourselves and the world what we can do! If proof were needed, below is a small sample of what we have so far:

Literature: Johnathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Bram Stoker, WB Yeats, Samuel Beckett, Seamus Heaney, Brian Friel, Emma Donoghue, Maeve Binchy, Claire Hennessy....and on and on we could go.

Music: Clannad, Enya, Van Morrison, Turlough O Carolan, Bernadette Greevy, Cora Venus Lunny, Sharon Shannon, Mary Black, Sinead O'Connor, U2, Phil Lynott, Rory Gallagher, Christy Moore, The Dubliners, Riverdance, John McCormack, Gerald Barry....

Art: Francis Bacon, Robert Ballagh, John Lavery, Graham Knuttel, Pauline Bewick, Poppy Melia, Eileen Gray...

Acting: Daniel Day Lewis, Richard Harris, Liam Neeson, Peter O'Toole, Cillian Murphy, Gabriel Byrne, Colm Meaney, Sinead Cusack, Colin Farrell, Pierce Brosnan, Brendan Gleeson, Brenda Fricker, Maureen O'Hara, Ivana Lynch....

Science and Maths: Robert Boyle, Francis Beaufort, George Boole, William Rowan Hamilton, Joycelyn Bell Burnell, Aoife McLysaght...

Sport: We have produced world class competitors in sports such as rugby, soccer, rowing, athletics, boxing, cycling, golf and now cricket. To name but a few: Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Brian O'Driscoll, Keith Woods, Ronan O'Gara, Sonia O'Sullivan, Eamonn Coghlan, John Treacy, Ron Delany, Mary Peters, George Best, Roy  Keane, Katie Nolan, Barry McGuigan, Bernard Dunne,  Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche....

Leadership: Michael Collins, Daniel O'Connell, Eamon de Valera, John Hume, Fergus Finlay, John O'Shea, Adi Roche, Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese, Mairead Corrigan, Bob Geldof, Bono, Mary Davis, Debbie Deegan... John Kennedy had Irish genes, and apparently Barack O'Bama is also one of ours!

Whether it's in the water or in the genes, the Irish have something special. EU Talent Day is an opportunity for us all to forget for one day, about the dreadful mess we are now in and remember that we are a great people. Dispersed throughout the young people of Ireland right now are the next great people of talent. We must recognise that talent and make sure that they have every possible opportunity to fulfill their potential. The first step is to recognise, encourage and celebrate talent of every type and level. 

So, on Saturday 9th April 2011, we invite everyone, regardless of ability, to celebrate talent of all forms. This can be done by small groups of friends or families, by sports clubs, scout and guide troops, dance clubs, craft classes. It need not be an elaborate or special event. If you already have something planned for the day, do it in honour of EU Talent Day and let us know either via this blog or on our facebook wall so that we can add it to our list.