Fellow list members, for your information here is this year's Christmas Message from the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. Merry Christmas Ley K. O'Connor List Owner O'Connor (var) Mailing List CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT It gives me great pleasure to extend warm greetings in this holy season of Christmas to Irish people everywhere. Christmas has a special significance for those who cannot be with their loved ones at this time of joy and happiness and it is my hope that the spirit of Christmas will draw together all friends and relations who are separated by thought or by distance. Christmas is a time of reflection and renewal - reflection on the events of the year drawing to a close and renewal of our hopes of peace and happiness for all the peoples of this world. We hope that the peace that has been bestowed on this island will be our gift to the next generation and that it will extend to every war torn part of the globe. It is appropriate at this time to reflect on the commitment and generosity of so many Irish people, among them members of our Defence Forces, many clergy and religious and many thousands of others who will be away from home this Christmas in the cause of helping others. Their sacrifice and selflessness is renowned and lauded internationally. They are Ireland's special ambassadors and I am proud to send a special and heartfelt greeting and every good wish to them. They bring Ireland's ethos of caring and sharing to the poor and the hungry across the globe, reminding us in doing so of our common humanity and our shared responsibility for all God's family. May the spirit of this holy season give courage and comfort to those who are sick, alone, suffering or in need. May God reward the great generosity of everyone who shares what they have, not least their friendship, with those less fortunate. Above all, I pray that the spirit of peace and neighbourliness which Christmas inspires in us will serve to deepen our respect for, and understanding of, the needs and aspirations of all the traditions on this island in the cause of securing a lasting peace. May God grant wisdom, courage, strength and determination to all political representatives committed to securing peace on this island, as they meet the challenges ahead. I wish a very happy Christmas and a New Year filled with hope and peace to all our Irish family and all our friends at home and across the world. MARY MCALEESE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND