Sanctuary Runners in guard of honour for patron Michael D

It was the end of a 14-year era, the end of Michael D Higgins’s presidency, and he ended it as he had lived it, celebrating the best aspects of Irish society and decency.

As the big car drove out the avenue from Áras an Uachtaráin on Monday evening, carrying Michael and Sabina Higgins from the former viceregal lodge for the last time in the ninth presidency, it passed through a guard of honour more than a 100-strong.

That guard of honour was made up of members of the Sanctuary Runners, founded by Fermoy-based journalist Graham Clifford, which uses running to bring together locals, migrants, and refugees in Ireland. President Higgins has long been the patron of the solidarity-through-sport movement.

The presidential motorcade stopped outside the gates of the Áras where a lone Sanctuary Runner, Monica Pumpkin, originally from Botswana, presented two yellow roses to the President and Ms Higgins.

The yellow roses represented friendship and joy, and on the stem was a blue bow to reflect the colours of the Sanctuary Runners.

Monday was Ms Pumpkin’s birthday and she said she couldn’t have asked for a better present.

“I always wanted to meet President Higgins. I thought my chance had passed so it was a real honour to present roses to him and his wife Sabina,” said Ms Pumpkin.

“I thanked him for his support of the Sanctuary Runners over the years and for his solidarity with migrants like me. It was very emotional.”

Sanctuary Runners chief executive Anna Pringle said the organisation’s relationship with President Higgins went back many years, and that he had been an ardent supporter of the charity’s work since its foundation in 2018.

“We have been so lucky to have President Higgins as our President,” said Ms Pringle.

“He has invited so many people from all backgrounds to the Áras and really helped make Ireland a more welcoming and inclusive place for all of us. We were truly honoured that the President chose to be a patron of our movement. All of our members around the country thank him for his support.”

Mr Clifford 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,” said Mr Clifford.

“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.”