John Crown (Independent)

Comhghairdeas leis an gCathaoirleach. Go n-éirí leis agus beannacht Dé ar an obair. I had not planned on making a maiden speech today but I must admit that Senator Mooney made me a little sentimental with his references to north Leitrim. When I thought of the concept of making a maiden speech, I have to make the confession that, not uniquely in this House but in a very distinct minority as a maiden speaker, I was not made in Ireland. I was born in New York. I stand to be corrected on this, but I believe I am the second parliamentarian to walk the halls of this building who is from the Kings County of Brooklyn in New York, the original one being Eamon de Valera. I am very proud of that connection and like Eamon de Valera I am proud to call myself an Irish republican. I call myself an Irish republican because I am a citizen of a real Republic to which I owe allegiance.

I mention again, following the inspirational lead of Senator Mooney, the little village of Lurganboy, in north Leitrim, because I did not realise until several weeks ago that Lurganboy, which has a population of about 40 people and which is where my late father, Lord rest him, came from, now has two Senators with origins in that area. The original one was the late Senator Gordon Wilson, whose family originated in Manorhamilton, near Lurganboy in north Leitrim, and where he maintained a home for many years. In thinking of the great contributions that great peacemaker made to this House, I could not let the occasion go without acknowledging those who were lifelong peacemakers in this island. There are many people here who did not need to be converted to the cause of peacemaking and sometimes we forget the contribution they made. Those people included Mr. John Hume, Mr. Ivan Cooper and Mr. Austin Currie but they also included the late Baron Gerry Fitt, whose name should ring in this House from time to time.

In mentioning Lurganboy I must say we stand in pale comparison to another small village in the west which must be regarded - and we have all been talking about diversity - as the very temple of diversity in Ireland. The village of Ahascragh, in east Galway, has not only given us my esteemed colleague, Senator Mullen, but also the former Minister, Ms Mary Harney, and our Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, as well as the Queen's hat maker, Mr. Philip Treacy. I cannot think of a greater level of diversity coming from one small village.