Hundreds of "new Irish" families from as far away as China, Afghanistan and Iran met President Mary McAleese at a garden party at Áras an Uachtaráin yesterday.
It would be hard to imagine a nicer day to take a glass of wine, or Guinness, on to the lawns of the Áras for the International Community garden party. There wasn't a cloud in the sky as the sun shone, bringing out the colour of the national costumes from dozens of countries.
Families gathered not only to meet the President but to represent organisations which support immigrants, such as the Afghan Social and Cultural Centre in Ireland and Akidwa, the African Women's Network in Ireland.
Architect Paul Achioya, from Nigeria, his wife Tinu and their sons, Temi (4) and Tomi (8), represented the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI). "I have been here for five years, and Tinu has been here for six. It's our first time to meet the President, but I think the sunshine today is a good omen that we will meet again," he said.
Each family spent just a few minutes with Mrs McAleese and were impressed with her friendliness and warmth.
"She was very welcoming and very easy to talk to, and of course she is very pretty and so is her husband," said Sally Felipe, a Filipina care assistant.
Irish emigrants had brought huge benefits to the countries they had made home, Mrs McAleese said: "You do the same for Ireland. Irish life is enriched by the arrival of so many new voices, so many imaginations and talents."
