Broadcast of the fifth in the series of Machnamh 100 seminars, entitled “Constitutional, Institutional and Ideological Foundations: Complexity and Contestation” 

https://president.ie/en/presidential-seminars/machnamh-100

Machnamh 100 Seminar V - Response by Dr Theresa Reidy

Broadcast of the sixth in the series of Machnamh 100 seminars, entitled "Memory, History and Imagination"

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/broadcast-of-the-final-in-the-series-of-machnamh-100-seminars-entitled-memory-history-and-imagination

Lead paper from Professor Declan Kiberd - Machnamh 100 Seminar VI "Memory, History and Imagination"

Response by Professor Angela Bourke - Machnamh 100 Seminar VI "Memory, History and Imagination"

Response by Fergal Keane - Machnamh 100 Seminar VI "Memory, History and Imagination"

On Saturday 10 December 2022, President Higgins switched on the Christmas tree lights at Áras an Uachtaráin.
 
Each year, the President and Sabina Higgins welcome families to Áras an Uachtaráin, to be present for the official switching on of the Christmas lights.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-annual-tree-lighting-ceremony

Speech by President Higgins at the 2022 Tree-Lighting Ceremony

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-higgins-host-afternoon-tea-reception

President and Sabina Higgins hosted an afternoon tea in Áras an Uachtaráin with groups from across Ireland. 

Among those in attendance was Emily O’Brien, from Rosslare, Co. Wexford, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday with her daughters Carol O’Brien, Mellory O’Brien, Joan Walsh and Sheelagh O’Brien

Also present was Retired Captain Thomas Gunn and his family. Captain Gunn's father, the late Colonel Thomas Gunn, led National Army troops into what was then the Viceregal Lodge (now Áras an Uachtaráin) to take over the building from British troops on 14 December 1922.

Speech by President Higgins at an Afternoon Tea Party

The President and Sabina Higgins hosted a lunch celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The National Women’s Council.

President Higgins has been a long-time advocate of gender equality and women’s rights. In 2015 the President committed to being a HeForShe Champion at the invitation of then-UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, in support of UN Sustainable Development Goal number 5 - to end gender-based violence.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-a-lunch-celebrating-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-national-womens-council

Speech by President Michael D. Higgins celebrating the National Women’s Council’s 50th Anniversary

St Patrick's Day 2023 - Message from President Michael D. Higgins

Each year, the President and Sabina Higgins mark St. Patrick's Day by hosting a reception for groups and people that have made a particular contribution to Irish society.

This year the President and Sabina Higgins hosted a reception in Áras an Uachtaráin celebrating the Irish Film, Audio-Visual and Performing Arts Communities.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-a-st-patricks-day-reception-celebrating-irish-film

Speech by President Higgins at a St. Patrick’s Day Reception Celebrating Irish Film

1938 Inauguration Speech by President Douglas Hyde Irish 25-06-1938

©RTE

1938 Inauguration Speech by President Douglas Hyde Irish 25-06-1938

1945 1st Inaguration Speech by Sean T O'Ceallaigh 25-06-1945

©RTE

1945 1st Inaguration Speech by Sean T O'Ceallaigh 25-06-1945

The President and Sabina Higgins hosted special Presidential Concert, celebrating Irish music. 

The concert was part of a series of Garden Parties at Áras an Uachtaráin, organised by President and Sabina Higgins to celebrate people and organisations who work on themes that the President wishes to highlight.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-a-concert-celebrating-irish-music-reimagined

Speech by President Higgins at a Concert Celebrating Irish Music Reimagined

At the invitation of the Director General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Dr. QU Dongyu, President Higgins delivered a speech at the World Food Forum grand opening ceremony.

Opening Statement by President Higgins at the The World Food Forum, Rome

On the occasion of President Michael D. Higgins’ visit to Rome, H.E. Patricia O’Brien, Ambassador of Ireland to Italy and H.E. Frances Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to Holy See, hosted a reception at the Villa Spada, the residence of the Ambassador of Ireland to Italy, for selected representatives of the Irish community.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-attend-a-reception-for-the-irish-community-in-rome23

Speech by President Higgins at a Reception for the Irish Community in Rome

President Higgins launched the Ireland and the Birth of Europe exhibition, part of a series of events to mark 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership, at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-opens-exhibition-ireland-and-the-birth-of-europe

President opens exhibition ‘Ireland and the Birth of Europe’

President Higgins delivered a keynote address the Closing Ceremony of the World Food Forum on Friday 20th October.

The Closing Ceremony was attended by member Representatives as well as all participants of the World Food Forum including members and those participating in the youth, science and investment forums.

The President addressed the topic: "What advice would you give to the youth to achieve agri-food systems' transformation?" to inspire the audience to work together to accelerate the transformation of our agri-food systems and to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

President Higgins delivers a Keynote address at World Food Forum Closing Session

President Higgins hosted a special reception to mark World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims at Áras an Uachtaráin where he welcomed a number of family members of those who have tragically lost their lives on the road, as well as committee members of victim’s groups.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-hosts-a-reception-to-mark-world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims

Speech by President Higgins at a reception to mark World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

President Higgins delivered the Economic and Social Research Institute's 2023 Geary Lecture at an event in Áras an Uachtaráin.

The Geary lecture is organised each year by the ESRI and honours Dr R. C. Geary (1896 –1983), the first Director of the Institute. Dr Geary is regarded as the most eminent Irish statistician of the twentieth century. Lectures have been given by some of the world’s foremost scholars in the fields of economics, statistics and sociology, including a number of Nobel Prize winners.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-delivers-the-economic-and-social-research-institutes-geary-lecture

President Higgins delivers the Economic and Social Research Institute’s 2023 Geary Lecture

President Higgins launched Volumes 1 and 2 of collected work from his Machnamh 100 series at a reception in Áras an Uachtaráin.

Machnamh 100 is an initiative of President Higgins that builds on his extensive work to date during Ireland’s Decade of Commemorations that has examined and explored seminal events such as the Lockout of 1913, the First World War, The Easter Rising, the Flu Pandemic, the election of 1918 and the first Dáil.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-launches-machnamh-100-centenary-reflections-volumes-1-and-2

President Higgins launches Machnamh 100 Centenary Reflections, Volumes 1 and 2

On Saturday 9 December, President Michael D. Higgins switched on the Christmas tree lights at Áras an Uachtaráin.
 
Each year, the President and Sabina Higgins welcome families to Áras an Uachtaráin, to be present for the official switching on of the Christmas lights. 

Since his inauguration, President Higgins has made a determined effort to open Áras an Uachtaráin to members of the public, and he has invited countless people and organisations that work on initiatives to promote social change, inclusion and practical solidarity to visit the house and surrounding gardens.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-the-annual-tree-lighting-ceremony-2023

President and Sabina host the 2023 Tree Lighting Ceremony

Christmas Message From President Higgins 2023

Teachtaireacht Na Nollag Ón Uachtarán Ó HUigínn 2023

President Higgins opened the 2024 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.

The event brings together some of the country’s brightest young minds as they compete to take home the title of BT Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year.

Speech By President Higgins At Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2024

On Sunday 28 January, President Higgins delivered the keynote address at the Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration.

The annual Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration cherishes the memory of all who perished in the Holocaust. It recalls six million Jewish men, women and children and millions of others who were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis because of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliations or their religious beliefs.

Audio courtesy of Holocaust Education Ireland.

https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-delivers-keynote-address-at-the-2024-national-holocaust-memorial-day-commemoration

President Higgins delivers keynote address at the 2024 National Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration

President Higgins delivered the inaugural lecture in a new annual series of lectures which will run at the University of Manchester. Titled the John Kennedy Lecture Series, the lectures will run for five years as part of the University’s School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.

The title of the inaugural lecture, presented by President Higgins, is ‘Of the consciousness our times need in responding to interacting crises and the role of Universities as spaces of discourse in facilitating it’.

President Higgins delivers inaugural Lecture of the John Kennedy Lecture Series

President Higgins was conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa by the Chancellor of the University of Manchester, Nazir Afzal OBE, in recognition of his extensive and significant contributions to literature and public life. 

The citation was read by Professor John McAuliffe, Reader in Modern Literature and Creative Writing and Co-Director of the New Writing Centre at the University.

The conferral ceremony, with a dinner in the President’s honour, took place place at the Whitworth Art Gallery, which forms part of the University. The ceremony was attended by the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell.

Speech as President Higgins Receives Honorary Doctorate From The University Of Manchester

See https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-hosts-seminar-rethinking-the-role-of-the-state-in-fostering-a-sustainable-and-inclusive-economy

Ian Gough speaking at the Rethinking Economics seminar

“Take Care”


In the journey to the light,
the dark moments
should not threaten.
Belief
requires
that you hold steady.
Bend, if you will,
with the wind.
The tree is your teacher,
roots at once
more firm
from experience
in the soil
made fragile.
Your gentle dew will come
and a stirring
of power
to go on
towards the space
of sharing.
In the misery of the I,
in rage,
it is easy to cry out
against all others
but to weaken
is to die
in the misery of knowing
the journey abandoned
towards the sharing
of all human hope
and cries
is the loss
of all we know
of the divine
reclaimed
for our shared
humanity.
Hold firm.
Take care.
Come home
together.


MDH
‘Season of Fire’, 1993

'Take Care' by Michael D. Higgins - published 1993 in "Season of Fire.”

See https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-hosts-machnamh-100-event

Response by Prof. Michael Laffan to 'Machnamh 100' address by President Higgins

As a gesture to all those who have died, or who have lost a loved-one during the past year, President Higgins and Sabina invited Dan McCabe to perform ‘The Parting Glass’ at Áras an Uachtaráin, to remember the year that was, and to bring 2020 to a close with a thought for them all.

The performance is part of the President’s ‘Samhlaíocht agus An Náisiún / Imagination and the Nation’ initiative, which highlights the powerful and transformative role of art and creativity in society.

New Year's Eve 2020 - President Higgins Invites Dan McCabe To Perform 'The Parting Glass'

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Popular tracks by Áras an Uachtaráin