Sabina Higgins

President Higgins Addresses Mothers At A ‘Latching On’ Morning 2017

As part of National Breastfeeding Week Sabina Higgins hosted a reception and ‘Latching On’ morning in Áras an Uachtaráin.

Sabina welcomed more than 90 breastfeeding mothers and their babies along with supporters and campaigners for breastfeeding. Representatives of Cuidiú, La Leche League of Ireland, Friends of Breastfeeding, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and Baby Friendly Health Initiative, Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services Ireland and Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland were in attendance. 

Experts consider breastfeeding during the baby’s first year as crucial for its growth and development. Breast milk provides the nutritional properties that is needed by infants in the early stages of life.  It provides long term protection for the baby and paves the way for preventing childhood obesity.  Breastfeeding helps mothers recover quicker after given birth, they have a strong bond with their child and it reduces the risk of post-natal depression, breast and ovarian cancer.

President speaks about the Garden Parties (Extracts from a speech at a Community Day)

The final event in the 2017 series of Garden Parties was the 'Community Day' party.

Each year, President and Sabina Higgins open up Áras an Uachtaráin for a series of Garden Parties celebrating the work of people and organisations active on themes of citizenship and community - themes that are central to the Presidency of Michael D. Higgins. 

Over 400 people were invited to meet with the President and Sabina Higgins for the 'Community Day' event, celebrating voluntary groups and active citizens, from across the country, who are working to build a better, more inclusive Ireland.

Address to representatives of the Choctaw Nation

On 20 June 2017, President and Sabina Higgins hosted a delegation from the Choctaw Nation.

The Choctaw, who lost a quarter of their population on the 'Trail of Tears' in the 1830s, just a few short years later collected money to donate to the victims of the Famine in Ireland.