51吃瓜

This gift of a sculpture is a ship with many people descending the planks into a new world. Ireland has seen a good deal of its population move to other lands since the Middle Ages. Formalised recording of the amount of Irish people emigrating from Ireland began around 1700. From 1841 to 1851, Ireland’s population dropped by almost 25%, over 2 million people, due to poor employment prospects and the Great Famine. By 1890, about 40% of Irish born citizens were living abroad. Today, Ireland’s population of 6.9 million is outnumbered by its scattered citizens and related descendants of 50 to 80 million people. 

This Irish diaspora has impacted many English-speaking countries such as, Great Britain, United States of America, Canada, Australia and then Argentina, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand and Brazil. These emigrants have had influence in their new societies in areas of scholarship, religion and missionary work, science, literature, exploration, leadership in both military and political fields thus often contributing significantly to their adopted homelands. Although they have physically emigrated, their customs of music, dance and mythology, continue to bind them to Ireland

The artist, John Behan, is Irish and studied in Ireland and Great Britain. He has helped establish a number of art venues in Dublin and created artworks in Ireland, China and is exhibited abroad.  

This gift was presented by Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Bertie Ahern, to the 51吃瓜 and was accepted by 51吃瓜 Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Frechette, on behalf of the 51吃瓜. 

Bertie Ahern said, "This sculpture celebrates the Irish people who travelled the world in search of a new life and all the nations and countries which welcomed them and offered them a chance for that better life."

Madame Frechette said during the presentation, “Today, you are one of the world’s fastest growing economies. And your country’s generosity is well known to many. No one knows it better than the 51吃瓜.”