Cork people share fond memories of Michael D as he bids goodbye to the Áras

At midnight tonight, Michael D Higgins will formally relinquish the title of Uachtarán na hÉireann, and tomorrow Catherine Connolly becomes our 10th President, moving into the Áras.

Donal O’Keeffe spoke with some well-known Cork people who have fond memories of Michael D’s time in the Phoenix Park.

Catherine Clancy, former Lord Mayor of Cork

In 2014, Michael D Higgins was given the freedom of Cork City. The then lord mayor, former councillor Catherine Clancy, said the honour was bestowed as a mark of respect for a very decent man.

“He was given the freedom of the city, because I suppose he was somebody always that I admired, and as lord mayor, had the opportunity to choose somebody of significance to me and also significant to our country,” Ms Clancy said.

“And what I admired about Michael D is, he was never micro in his politics, he always looked at the big picture, it could be an issue to do with something in Galway, or in Asia, or Africa, anywhere people were suffering because of injustice, because when it came to injustice, he was never just local.

“He articulated what a lot of people felt but might not have that gift that he had of articulating a message on behalf of people.

“He was wonderful.”

John Spillane, singer/songwriter

Mr Higgins’ great intelligence, compassion, and decency shone through in his time in Áras an Uachtaráin, Cork singer and songwriter John Spillane has said.

“How wonderful that we have had a poet for president in Ireland, the most poetic republic in the world,” Mr Spillane said.

“I have always greatly admired president Michael D Higgin’s deep knowledge and appreciation of Irish history, literature and music.

“He has been an outspoken supporter of oppressed peoples and minorities. I am grateful for his support of the oppressed people of Palestine and his public condemnation of the state of Israel, their killing of unarmed civilians and the use of hunger as a weapon of war.”

The president’s humanity shone through in a very troubled time, he added: “If we are to learn the lessons of history, we need intelligent, compassionate, and informed leaders.”

“Míle buíochas leat ó chroí a Mhichíl shéimh na féile, go mairfidh tú an céad, agus guím gach rath is síocháin ort tar éis duit an t-áras i bPáirc an Fhionnuisce a thréigint, a shoilse, a shár-uachtaráin Éireann.”

Catriona Twomey,Cork Penny Dinners

Mr Higgins always went out of way to give a word of encouragement, said Caitriona Twomey, volunteer co-ordinator with Cork Penny Dinners, recalling how gracious a host he was at an Áras an Uachtaráin garden party some years ago.

“The High Hopes Choirs from Dublin, Cork, and Waterford went to Dublin to sing at his garden party as special guests, and he spent a lot of time chatting to everybody with his wife, Sabina, and with the choir. He was really interested in what the choir was doing, and that was absolutely lovely,” Ms Twomey said.

“He spoke with everybody, offering each person a word of encouragement. He filled them with encouragement, and when they sang, they dedicated it to him, because he was so nice to them, taking really a lot of time to chat to them, which was absolutely brilliant.

“He made it his business to come right over and chat to everyone, making everyone feel at ease.

Theo Dorgan, poet

For Cork poet Theo Dorgan, Mr Higgins’s faith in truth, justice, and the power of imagination has never wavered.

“As a TD and as a minister, he had always the unshaken courage of his convictions,” Mr Dorgan said.

“His empathy for the poor and the powerless spoke to his character, his respect for language and meaning spoke to his strict and luminous intelligence.

“As president he inspired us to share in that faith, to find and trust what is best in ourselves, to imagine a better future, a clearer, more honest, language in which to conduct our public affairs. He cared for us, and so we came to love him.

Graham Clifford,Sanctuary Runners

This evening, as Michael D and Sabina Higgins left Áras an Uachtaráin, their final guard of honour in office was provided by the Sanctuary Runners.

On its way out, the presidential motorcade stopped outside the gates of the Áras where a lone Sanctuary Runner, Monica Pumpkin, who is originally from Botswana, presented two yellow roses to Mr and Ms Higgins. The yellow rose represents friendship and joy, and on the stem was a blue bow, reflecting the colours of the Sanctuary Runners’ movement.

Graham Clifford, founder of the solidarity through sport initiative, said it was an emotional farewell to the organisation’s patron.

“President Higgins became our patron because he believes so much in what we do,” Mr Clifford said.

“And not only does he believe in an Ireland that is welcoming and respectful of all, but it’s innate in him that that is the way our world should be, a world of equality, a world of equity, a world of decency, and that mirrors our values.

“We’re very sad to see him go, but we’re delighted we had the time we had with him.”