Ar lá Fhéile Pádraig i mbliana tá áthas orm beannachtaí ó chroí a chur chuig Éireannaigh sa bhaile agus ar fud an domhain agus chuig gach duine a cheiliúrann ár lá náisiúnta linn.
Ba é teachtaireacht Phádraig ná an tsíocháin agus an bhuanseasmhacht in aghaidh an anró agus thug muintir na hÉireann an teachtaireacht sin leo ar fud an domhain. Nuair a chastar Éireannaigh ó dhúchas, nó daoine de bhunadh na hÉireann, orm thar lear, téann sé i bhfeidhm orm go n-airíonn síad gur Éireannaigh fós iad, agus go bhfuil an oiread sin bainte amach acu ag cabhrú leis an tír ina bhfuil siad anois nó i seirbhís an phobail idirnáisiúnta.
I mbliana táimid ag tosú ag cuimhneamh siar ar an nGorta Mór agus tugaimid chun cuimhne go háirithe muintir na hÉireann agus a sliocht thar lear. Na hÉireannaigh sin, idir fhir agus mhná, arbh éigean dóibh an t-oileán seo a fhágáil in am an ghátair, thugadar aghaidh ar na dúshláin a bhí rompu ina dtíortha nua go ciallmhar agus go buanseasmhach. Is é an spiorad céanna sin a léiríonn ár misinéirí agus ár n-oibrithe cúnaimh sa lá atá inniu ann, chomh maith lenár saighdiúirí agus ár nGardaí atá ar seirbhís leis na Náisiúin Aontaithe. Is ábhar bróid dúinn go léir gach a ndéanann siad.
Tá muidne atá sa bhaile ag cuimhneamh inniu orthu sin go léir atá thar lear a bhfuil ceangal comhoidhreachta nó cairdis againn leo. Tá a fhios agam gurb é an dóchas ó chroí atá againn go léir go seasfaidh an tsíocháin ar an oilean seo againne, ionas go bhfeicfimid teachtaireacht Phádraig ag teacht chun críche go hiomlan.
Patrick's message of peace and of endurance in adversity has been carried by Irish people throughout the world. As I meet people abroad of Irish birth or of Irish descent, I have been struck both by their continuing sense of Irishness, and by their level of achievement, either in contributing to their country of adoption or in the service of the international community.
In this year which sees the beginning of commemorations of the Great Famine, we remember in particular the Irish and their descendants abroad. The Irish men and women who were forced to leave our island in circumstances of such great distress met the challenges facing them in their new countries in a spirit of practical endurance. That same spirit is brought to bear by our missionaries and aid workers today, and by our soldiers and Gardai on UN service, in a way which is a source of pride to us all.
Today we at home think of all those abroad who are linked to us through a common heritage or through friendship. They, I know, join with us in the heartfelt hope that peace will endure on our island, so that we may see Patrick's message realised in full.