Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina hosted the final afternoon tea reception of his term of office at Áras an Uachtaráin.
President Higgins and Sabina have sought over the last 14 years to open up the Áras to members of the public in an ever-expanded way. They have extended a welcome to approximately 15,000 to 20,000 members of the public at Áras an Uachtaráin each year, including approximately 17,000 people last year.
This has included the annual themed series of summer garden parties in the Áras grounds, receptions, afternoon teas, concerts, tours and other occasions, including events each year for Brigid’s Day, International Women’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, May Day, Culture Night, the turning on of the Christmas Tree lights at the Áras, and many others.
At today’s event, the President and Sabina welcomed approximately 100 members of the public, groups and organisations from around the country to the Áras.
Among those present were a group of scientists from the College of Science and Engineering in University of Galway who earlier this year, collaborating with astronomers in Leiden University and the University of Arizona, discovered a new planet using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in the Atacama Desert in Chile. They have called the new planet, which is some 430 light years away, ‘WISPIT 2b’.
Also in attendance were members from the Inniskillings Museum in Enniskillen and representatives of SIPTU trade union. In 2016 the museum kindly loaned to SIPTU the green harp flag that flew over Liberty Hall in 1916. As President, Michael D. Higgins was delighted to accept the flag back to its original home in time for the centenary of the Rising, and it is expected that the relationship between the museum and Liberty Hall will continue to be a fulfilling and lasting one.
Among the other guests were a number of members from Crann, a charity promoting the sustainable use and conservation of trees and forests in Ireland, members of Animal Help Net Kerry, and Oisín Large, whose parents (also present) wrote to President Higgins to bring his attention to Oisín’s poem ‘Lament for Palestine’ which was published in the Wicklow Times in June.
Speaking at the event, President Higgins said:
“With my Presidential term drawing to a close, today’s event marks the final afternoon tea that I will host mar Uachtarán na hÉireann. The many events such as this which Sabina and I have held over the past 14 years have been occasions to witness the moral leadership and unstinting efforts of so many people throughout the country working towards the creation of a just and equal world.
May I suggest that such efforts represent the best expressions of an active, engaged and inclusive citizenship, one that demonstrates a commitment to a better future founded on principles of solidarity and recognition of the dignity of all members of our shared global family.
Over the past 14 years I have been constantly reminded that, in spite of all the challenges we face, there remains within the Irish people a profound and unyielding commitment to seeing beyond the self, to seeing the ‘other’ as friend, the principles of generosity, compassion, kindness, decency and care for one another.
Mar fhocal scoir, may I express again my gratitude to each and every one of you for the individual and collective contribution that you have all made to our country in your different capacities, for your friendship, for your spirit of inclusion and endeavour, demonstrating what can be achieved from the values of social inclusion, participative citizenship and sustainable living, as we work towards crafting a flourishing Republic that is responsive to the great challenges of our times and the achieving of an inclusive, peaceful and sustainable future for all on our shared, precious planet.”
Through their events and receptions, the President and Sabina have made a particular effort over the last fourteen years to include disadvantaged groups, including in their invitations for example many members of the Traveller community, migrant and refugee groups, those who have lost family members in the conflict in Northern Ireland, members of the LGBTQI+ community, those working in advance of global solidarity, women who had been in the Magdalene Institutions, and many others. This has been of particular importance to the President in a global context when such groups have in some instances faced increasing hostility over recent years.
Glachann Uachtarán agus Sabina buíochas ó chroí le gach duine a bhí comh cabhrach is a bhí siad, agus d’foireann an Áras a rinne éacht bliain in ndiadh bliain.
