Speeches By President Of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins

The President and Sabina hosted a community day garden party celebrating the roles of individuals across the community and voluntary sector settings, working to make our society a better place.

Message from President Michael D.Higgins for National Community Radio Day 2025

President Higgins and his wife Sabina hosted a Bloomsday Garden Party at Áras an Uachtaráin. Bloomsday, 16 June 1904, is the date immortalised in James Joyce’s 1922 novel Ulysses and named after the book’s protagonist Leopold Bloom. Each year, the President and Sabina host a special Bloomsday themed Garden Party to celebrate the work of James Joyce. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-hosts-a-bloomsday-garden-party-15-june-2025

Each year, the President and Sabina Higgins host a series of Garden Parties to celebrate the work of people and organisations who have been active in projects and areas that are central to the Presidency of Michael D. Higgins. The Garden Parties continue a tradition established by past Presidents, and over the course of 7 events, the President and Sabina will welcome people from all over the island of Ireland to Áras an Uachtaráin, its house and gardens. The first garden party of 2025 took place on 13 June, and celebrated community groups from around Ireland, including members from the National Youth Council of Ireland, Gaisce, the National Association for Youth Drama, the Immigrant Council, and the Irish Wheelchair Association.

The President and Sabina Higgins hosted a reception to mark the 75th anniversary of the Civil Defence in Ireland.

The President and Sabina Higgins received a number of Trade Union Representatives to Áras an Uachtaráin to mark May Day.

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 celebrating the President’s 'Samhlaíocht agus An Náisiún – Imagination and The Nation' initiative. 'Samhlaíocht agus An Náisiún – Imagination and The Nation' is an initiative to highlight the powerful and transformative role of art and creativity in the evolution of Ireland as a republic and an idea. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-a-st-patricks-day-reception-celebrating-samhlaiocht-agus-an-naisiun-imagination-and-the-nation

Speech by President Higgins at a Reception for the Ireland Football Team from Italia ’90 by Áras an Uachtaráin

Teachtaireacht Lá Fhéile Pádraig 2025 ón Uachtarán Micheál D. Ó hUigínn by Áras an Uachtaráin

St Patrick's Day 2025 - Message from President Michael D. Higgins by Áras an Uachtaráin

The President and Sabina Higgins hosted an afternoon tea reception at Áras an Uachtaráin for members of communities from around the country. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-an-afternoon-tea-reception-12-03-25

Speech by President Higgins at a Reception Hosting Members of the South-East Fermanagh Foundation by Áras an Uachtaráin

On Thursday 6 February 2025, President Higgins conferred the symbol of the office of Saoi, the gold Torc, to Paul Muldoon at a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin. Members of Aosdána may receive the honour of Saoi for singular and sustained distinction in the arts. It is the highest honour open to an Irish artist. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-confers-the-torc-symbol-of-the-office-of-saoi-on-paul-muldoon

Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins this presented this year’s Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad at a ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin. The MC for the event was Doireann Ní Bhriain. This year’s ten recipients are: Séamus Coleman, Republic of Ireland international football captain Patrick Leahy, Former United States Senator Aduke Gomez, Irish-Nigerian scholar Rosalind Scanlon, Artistic Director of Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, London Professor Enrico Terrinoni, translator of Irish literature into Italian Orla Kiely, fashion designer Sr Teresa McKeon, missionary and educator in Sierra Leone (in absentia) Mary O’Neill, legal advocate in Los Angeles Pam O’Mahony, Irish community supporter in Australia Stella O’Leary, Observer to the International Fund for Ireland The Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad recognise the service given to this country or to Irish communities abroad by those who live outside Ireland. The Awards were establi

President Higgins opened the 2025 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. President Higgins is a great supporter of the BT Young Scientist & Technologist exhibition, praising it for encouraging young people to push the boundaries outwards and applying their creative energy and curiosity to a constant exploration of how the world around them can be improved.

Teachtaireacht na Nollag ón Uachtarán Micheál D. Ó hUigínn by Áras an Uachtaráin

Christmas Message from President Michael D. Higgins 2024

On Thursday, 12th December 2024, the President and Sabina Higgins hosted an afternoon tea reception at Áras an Uachtaráin for members of communities from around the country. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-an-afternoon-tea-reception-12-december-2024

On Saturday 7 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.

Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina welcomed the Irish Paralympic Team to Áras an Uachtaráin. The President invited the team that represented Ireland with such distinction at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to the Áras in order to officially acknowledge the achievements of the Team in Paris over the summer of 2024. Those in attendance included, among others, Orla Comerford, who won a bronze medal in the Women’s 100m sprint, Katie-George Dunlevy who won gold in the Women’s individual time trial and silver medals in the Women’s road race and Women’s individual pursuit and her Pilot Linda Kelly, and Róisín Ní Riain, who won bronze in the 100m breaststroke. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-a-reception-for-team-ireland-paris-2024-paralympics