Her Excellency, The President’s Visit 22nd March 1999
Listening to Her Excellency
As soon as we heard that the president was coming to Cavan the same day as
William Hague’s centenary we wrote to her and asked if she would come
to our ceremony. Imagine our delight when her office confirmed that Her Excellency Mrs McAleese would indeed come.
So we got to work and we made flags to wave.
Tuesday 23rd March 1999.
Yesterday President Mary Mc Aleese came to the hall. The infants up to
Third class performed a guard of honour for the President. Everybody had to wear their uniforms. When she came into the hall she was welcomed in by a lot of applause. She gave an address, and in it she said: ‘when I got the letter from Una Hague I thought she meant the living William Hague. I know he’s in the construction business, building the Tory party!’ After that she unveiled two plaques to William Hague. One for each church in our locality.
Then Dr. Parker gave a talk on William Hague. He talked about what the time was like when William Hague was born, was a child, studied and worked in. He said that he was at the height of his career when he died. Mrs. McAleese came with her husband. She said something about her local church in Culmullin near Dunshaughlin Co. Meath. It is called Saint Martins. She was delighted that it was designed by such a talented architect. She also signed a certificate to say she was Here. I shook hands with her and she held my face. After that Tea, buns and cakes were handed around. Some of the infants thought that refreshments meant crisps and minerals all round and my brother thought it meant ‘refresher’ bars for everyone and when we got home at twenty to seven he said he didn’t get his refresher bar.
Historic Occasion
In December 1997 the third and fourth classes started a project on the life and works of an outstanding architect, William Hague. They started the project because William Hague was an ancestor of Una Hague who was in that class and William Hague designed the local church, ST. Aidan’s. While doing the project they discovered that the 22nd of March 1999 would be the Centenary of his death. They decided to mark this event. Two plaques were made to commemorate him. A letter was written to the President of Ireland inviting her to come to unveil the plaques. Much to their suprize she accepted the invitation. It was decided that on Sunday 21st of March a commemorative mass for William Hague would be held in St. Aidan’s Church.
The fourth and fifth were going to actually meet the president, all the other classes were going to form a Guard of Honour outside the hall . We made little tri-colours to wave.
The 22nd of March was a cold windy day. We met outside the hall at 4.15. The presidential car arrived at about 5.00. The presidents Aide de Com. Opened the door for herself and her husband, Dr. Martin Mc Aleese. Her bodyguards got out of the next car. When she went in everybody in the Guard of Honour filed into the hall. Michael Mulvey introduced the President, and then Dr. Kieran Parker gave a summary of William Hague’s life. The President unveiled the two plaques, which will later be put up on St. Johns Church, Cloverhill and St. Aidan’s Church Butlers bridge. Then Andrew Boylan T.D. presented her with a booklet put together by D.r. Kieran Parker. The President gave a speech about William Hague. Then Una Hague. Then Una Hague presented her with the finished project booklet, and Victoria Good gave her a hamper of Cloverhill preserves. The President was thanked. Then she made her way out to her car.
Mary O Sullivan of the Geneology Office talked about the family tree of Hague. Dr. Parker gave a more extensive talk about Hague and his works. An ecumenical prayer service was conducted by Canon Mark Lidwell and Fr. Oliver Kelly. After the service tea ,biscuits and buns were served.
That was the end of an historic day. The first time a President in office visited our village.