At last, peace in Ireland. And now?

LAKEVILLE — Hotchkiss School Headmaster Malcolm McKenzie welcomed John Paul Kavanagh, ambassador of Ireland to the United Nations, to meet students and guests at a meeting Sunday, May 11, in the school’s faculty conference room.  

Kavanagh, co-chairman of the International Working Group on UN Reform, presented a talk called, “For Peace Comes Dropping Slow,†a line from W.B. Yeats’ “The Lake Isle of Innisfree.†The verse underscores the message that achieving peace takes time.

Kavanagh talked first about the traditional warm relationship between Ireland and the United States, and observed that there have been 13 U.S. presidents of Irish descent; an Irish architect designed the White House; and when Ireland was in the throes of poverty, this country became more than an alternative.

“It was a destination,†he said. “Now, for the first time, Ireland is at peace. It proves that peace is always possible. The price is hard work.â€

It was the perfect lead-in to a discussion of the work his committee will be doing to achieve reform of the United Nations Security Council.  Advances have already been made.  In a 2006 report, there was reference to an emphasis on leadership among developing nations.  It was agreed that no one size fits all and therefore there would be no uniform approach.

Kavanagh and his co-chair, Tanzanian Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, will issue a progress report in June. There is a good deal of optimism about their chances for success.

The Northwest Connecticut chapter of the United Nations Association holds two to three community meetings a year on highly topical subjects. They are designed to keep friends and neighbors up to date on United Nations progress and to strengthen the Model U.N. programs in local schools.  

For information on membership or future events, call Joe Baxer, president, Northwest Connecticut Chapter, United Nations Association, at 860-927-4333, or send an e-mail to  jjbaxer@charter.net.

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