On Wednesday the 30th of August, I, along with four others, spoke at the Irish Embassy. That was my "leasdership moment", and this is what I said.
My Speech:
There are many thoughts that I could share with all of you this evening, because my eight weeks in DC have inspired me deeply and set me on a new path.
My name is Mary Munroe and I am from County Mayo in the West of Ireland.
A duty, a responsibility has been placed upon my shoulders, which I now accept and carry willingly. That responsibility was always there, waiting to be hoisted.
But, it is due to the Washington Ireland Program's influence that it is now ignited within me. My motivation for accepting this responsibility is the extraordinary people whom I have met this summer.
The Washington Internship Program brings people together. I have found immeasurable inspiration in the students who joined us this summer from South Africa, because of the efforts of the WIP alumni. That is why I say internship program, rather than Ireland program.
Getting to know Thulani, a South African intern, was such a pleasure for me. He is a young man who is ready to serve his country, and he lives his life to the most wonderful syncopated rhythm.
I remember fondly, the first time I met Thami, also from South Africa, who interned with me in Congressman Donald Payne's office; I was too embarrassed to look at him or say anything when I saw that I had gotten make-up on his suit jacket during our embrace!
I cannot thank Congressman Payne enough for his contribution to our programs. He has taken an Irish intern for many years now, and WIP is delighted to reward his commitment in no better way than exporting our model to South Africa. On Capitol Hill, he is known as 'Mr. Africa'.
What a gift it was to have the South Africans amongst us, what joy they brought. They want to make South Africa a better place in which to live. And they played an enormous role in my wanting to make Ireland a better place in which to live.
My excitement about my future, my country's future, and the future of our world has been renewed one hundredfold, because of the open dialogue engaged in by us - from the North and South of Ireland, and South Africa. This was the fruit of toil and trouble on many people's behalf.
Stepping beyond yourself, beyond your side of the line, is the best thing you can do. It is enlightening. It bestows the awareness and understanding which are fundamental to moving forward.
On the island of Ireland, our long fight wasn't worth it. The loss of thousands of lives wasn't worth it. The raising of children in an environment of conflict wasn't worth it. We must move beyond the Troubles. And so here we are this evening.
Coming together in this program, students from North and South, we get it.
We won't allow the squabbling over post-conflict issues, the "I want this, but you can't have that" attitude, to hold our homelands back.
Our desire is to work together. We are aware that we have been called upon. We are aware that the only choice is to answer that call.
I will not leave everything that needs to be done to others. I too, must do my bit.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh. (Thank you)
