Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, A chairde, Is mór an onóir dom a bheith anseo libh, agus muid ag smaoineamh agus ag tabhairt ómos dóibh siúd d’ár muintir a d’fhulaing agus a bhfuair bás le linn na trasóide is mó tábhacht i scéal na hÉireann sa nua-aois: An Gorta Mór, An Drochshaol. It is an honour and a privilege to be asked to join with fellow Irish people wherever they may be, and in whatever circumstances, as we recall the lives, deaths and suffering of all those of our people who perished during that tragic, imposed and never to be forgotten event in the history of modern Ireland, that is the Great Hunger, An Gorta Mór.