Speeches by President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins

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 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.

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 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.

Christmas Message From President Higgins 2023 by Áras an Uachtaráin

Teachtaireacht Na Nollag Ón Uachtarán Ó HUigínn 2023 by Áras an Uachtaráin

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 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 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 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

The President and Sabina Higgins hosted a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin for visiting Honorary Consuls and Heads of Missions who are participating in their annual conference in Dublin Castle. The conference is part of the 2023 Global Ireland Summit, a four-day series of events and engagements that began on Monday, 23 October, with the annual Heads of Mission conference and concluded on Thursday, 26 October, with the Global Schools programme in which Heads of Mission and Peacekeepers from the Defence Forces will visit secondary schools in different parts of Ireland to discuss their work.

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 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 Higgins held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries. Ireland is a founding member of IFAD and has contributed US$63.6 million to the Fund’s regular resources since it was established in 1977. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-meets-mr-alvaro-lario-president-of-the-international-fund-for-agricultural-development

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

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.

At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, President Higgins participated in a meeting of the ‘Arraiolos Group’ of EU Presidents. The meeting was attended by14 non-executive Presidents of European Union member states who discussed contemporary issues. The Arraiolos Group is an informal meeting of Presidents of European Union member states. Meeting once a year, the Arraiolos Group, named after the Portuguese town where the first meeting took place in 2003, provides a political forum for the Presidents of parliamentary republics in the EU to consider responses to the challenges facing their societies, and to promote the principles of multilateralism.

President Higgins formally opened the National Ploughing Championships, taking place place in Ratheniska, Co. Laois. The President has attended the Ploughing Championships since his inauguration in 2011, and has described the festival as “an outstanding example of the Irish genius” and “the most beloved rendez-vous in Ireland’s rural calendar.”

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, has participated, at the invitation of Chile’s President, in events taking place in Santiago to mark the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état which overthrew the government of the democratically elected Chilean President Salvador Allende on 11 September 1973. President Higgins, at the request of President Gabriel Boric, has contributed a video message – which the President has delivered in both the Spanish and English languages – which will be played at an event attended by invited Heads of State in Santiago on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of the coup. President Higgins has also added his support to the ‘Santiago Commitment’, which will be signed by those participating in the event. On the 50th anniversary of the overturning of democracy in Chile, the document commits those signing it to caring for and defending democracy, condemning violence and promoting peaceful resolution of differences, defending and promoting human rights, and strengthening the spaces for collaboration between states through a mature multilateralism. President Higgins’ message has been welcomed by President Boric, who released the President’s message over the weekend in Chile.

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, has participated, at the invitation of Chile’s President, in events taking place in Santiago to mark the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état which overthrew the government of the democratically elected Chilean President Salvador Allende on 11 September 1973. President Higgins, at the request of President Gabriel Boric, has contributed a video message – which the President has delivered in both the Spanish and English languages – which will be played at an event attended by invited Heads of State in Santiago on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of the coup. President Higgins has also added his support to the ‘Santiago Commitment’, which will be signed by those participating in the event. On the 50th anniversary of the overturning of democracy in Chile, the document commits those signing it to caring for and defending democracy, condemning violence and promoting peaceful resolution of differences, defending and promoting human rights, and strengthening the spaces for collaboration between states through a mature multilateralism. President Higgins’ message has been welcomed by President Boric, who released the President’s message over the weekend in Chile.