Speeches by President of Ireland

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 ini...

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-...

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 scho...

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 ha...

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, Orl...

Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins delivered the 2024 Kofi Annan Eminent Speakers’ Lecture in a live online event from the State Reception Room in Áras an Uachtaráin. President Higgins was invited to deliver this year’s lecture by the President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina. The lecture series was launched in 2006 and in 2018 was renamed in honour of the for...

President Higgins hosted a reception marking the 40th Anniversary of the Office of the Ombudsman at Áras an Uachtaráin. The Office of the Ombudsman investigates complaints from members of the public who believe they have been unfairly treated by certain public service providers. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-hosts-a-reception-marking-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-office-of-the-ombu...

President Higgins hosted a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin to honour the memory of those who died in the Stardust Tragedy. On Sunday 23 June 2024, President Higgins laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Ireland at a Ceremony of Commemoration in the Garden of Remembrance, for the relatives of the victims, for the survivors and for all those affected by the Stardust Fire.

On the evening of the first day of the 2024 State Visit by H.E. Tô Lâm, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, President and Sabina Higgins hosted a State Dinner in honour of their guest. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-a-state-dinner-in-honour-of-h.e-to-lam-president-of-the-socialist-republic-of-vietnam

President Higgins received the Eugene O’Neill International Public Service Award from the New York-based Irish American Writers and Artists Association (IAWA). The President delivered acceptance remarks in a public event held at the Irish Arts Centre on the evening of Monday 23 September. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-receives-the-eugene-oneill-international-public-service-award

Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins hosted a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin for the athletes who represented Ireland with such distinction at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-and-sabina-host-a-reception-for-team-ireland-paris-2024

Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins, addressed the UN Summit of the Future at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Invited to address the UN Summit of the Future by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who has convened the Summit during the High-Level Week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, President Higgins will speak of a form of the United Nati...

The President and Sabina Higgins received representatives of the Dunnes Stores Anti-Apartheid Strikers at Áras an Uachtaráin. 19th July is the 40th anniversary of the commencement of the Dunnes Stores Anti-Apartheid strike, which commenced on 19 July 1984 when Mary Manning refused to handle the sale of grapefruit from South Africa. To mark the anniversary, the President and Sabina met with striker...

The President and Sabina Higgins hosted a special Presidential Concert, celebrating Irish Music Month 2024. In his speech President Higgins recognised the many different groups, organisations and individual citizens who have contributed so much to Irish music, whether as musicians, songwriters, singers, composers or the many who work in the wider music sector, including in Irish radio. The concert...

In the penultimate Garden Party of 2024, the President and Sabina Higgins hosted a garden party celebrating the trade union movement. Through the theme of this garden party, President Higgins reflected, and celebrated, the trade union movement all that has been achieved in the long and difficult struggle for workers’ rights in Ireland, and across the globe. The garden party celebrated the work of...

The theme of the fifth garden party of 2024 was ‘Life Below Water’ – Protecting our Oceans, Sustainable Development Goal 14. The President and Sabina Higgins welcomed members of our communities and activists who are dedicating themselves to fostering a sustainable future for the citizens of Ireland and beyond. In his speech, President Higgins reaffirmed our commitment to safeguarding, conserving a...