President enjoys warm Ballyclare welcome at Sacred Heart Church

Those were the words the President of Ireland Mrs Mary McAleese inscribed in the visitors’ book at Sacred Heart Church after her visit to the Ballyclare parish on Monday afternoon.

And after what had been a frenetic time of planning and preparation in the run-up to the important visit, they were just the words that parish priest Father Eugene O'Hagan wanted to hear.

"We didn't have too many days of planning in the run-up to the Presidential visit let's just say, so it was all quite intensive as we tried our best to organise things so the day would run as smoothly as possible," Father Eugene told the Times afterwards.

"From the sending out of invitations to all our parishioners, to the erecting of the marquee, the security arrangements, printing of passes and programmes, recruiting of stewards, and the arranging of the musical entertainment - the visit presented us with something of a logistical challenge, but thankfully everything went according to plan, and we were all 'singing from the same hymn sheet' as it were, by the time it came around."

At 2.30pm on Monday and following her visit to Ballyclare High School, the President and her husband Dr Martin McAleese enjoyed a private tour of Sacred Heart Chapel on Doagh Road with Father Eugene, before being escorted to a marquee specially erected in the church grounds for the occasion.

"There, in the presence of 196 guests, we welcomed and put on a musical programme for the President and her husband Dr Martin McAleese," said Father Eugene.

"Included amongst the guests were our parishioners from Ballyclare and Ballygowan - all of whom were invited to attend; the Mayor of Newtownabbey Alderman John Scott and his wife Audrey; representatives of Ballyclare Community Concerns, and representatives of the various churches - the Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Trainor, the Reverend Mark McConnell of Ballyclare and Ballynure Church of Ireland, Reverend Robert Bell of the First Presbyterian Church in Ballyclare, Reverend Paul Redfern from the Church of Ireland, Doagh, and Reverend Jack Moore of Greystone Road Methodist who is the President of the Northern Ireland Hospital Chaplains Association and who happened to be working in Ballyclare that day.

"The children from Tir-na-Nog Primary sang 'Molly Malone', and then one of the daughters of the parish - Elaine Agnew who is an extremely talented composer of contemporary Irish music, played one of her compositions - 'Maisy Daly's Rainbow'.

"After that myself, and my brother Martin, and Father David Delargy sang 'She Moved Through The Fair' and 'The Gaelic Blessing'," said Father Eugene, who is one of the acclaimed singing trio who are simply called, The Priests.

Following this, the President gave a short address.

"The President spoke eloquently, acknowledging the different traditions that exist in the town. She said that happily, the time had now come when both traditions acknowledged the richness that was inherent in both, and were now keen to join in unity as one community.

"She pointed out how in 1911 the land on which the Sacred Heart Church and the parochial house now stand was donated to the Catholic community in the town by a Protestant solicitor from these parts.

"And she paid tribute to a Ballyclare where, even in those early days, when there was only a small Catholic community here, the Protestant townsfolk wished that community well and wanted them to grow and flourish, and to take their place in the affairs of the town.

"The President said that for some time this unity that existed between the ordinary townsfolk in Ballyclare had been hijacked by politics and the Troubles, but it was important during difficult times like we are all going through at present, to rediscover what it is that unites us.

"She said that issues like the recession and global warming affect everyone, and it is at times like these we should realise we are all in this together and join forces to work our way through to solving such wideranging problems.

"It was a short speech, but the President ended it to resounding applause," said Father Eugene.

Afterwards, a parishioner who was celebrating his 83rd birthday on Monday, presented the President with a gift.

"Tony Owens gave the President a DVD of well wishes from those in the parish who could not attend on the day for one reason or another," said Father Eugene.

"It also had on it views of the countryside and the town of Ballyclare and of the parish. We hope that one day when she has a few minutes to spare, the President will be able to put her feet up and watch it and remember her day in Ballyclare!

"Kay-Ann Geronimo, a pupil at Tir-na-Nog, then presented the President with a bouquet of flowers, and afterwards Mrs McAleese and her husband, Dr McAleese, signed the visitors’ book. They then took time to meet and greet everyone present.

"The President extended her thanks to all those who had attended, and participated in the musical programme, and all who had made her and her husband feel so welcome. She also commented on our marquee, saying it was one of the nicest ones she ever had the pleasure to be in, and indeed the only one she’d ever been in that housed a grand piano!

"In addition, the President took time out to speak to St John Ambulance representatives who were stationed outside, in case any medical emergency arose."

Father Eugene said the visit had been "very encouraging."

"It was a very encouraging and inspirational occasion," he said.

"The President and Dr McAleese took the time to speak with as many people as they could, and that was greatly appreciated."