President Michael D. Higgins’ St Patrick’s Day 2018
Date: Tue 13th Mar, 2018 | 10:55
Details of President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina’s public engagements on St. Patrick’s Day are as follows:
The President and Sabina will attend mass in St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on Saturday morning.
After Mass, the President and Sabina will attend the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
After the parade, the President will travel to Croke Park to attend the All-Ireland Club Senior Football Final between Corofin (Galway) and Nemo Rangers (Cork).
Later that afternoon, the President and Sabina will host a special reception at Áras an Uachtaráin that will acknowledge those who support organ donation, and pay tribute to donors, their families and all medical personnel involved in transplant operations.
The President and Sabina mark St. Patrick’s Day at Áras an Uachtaráin in a very special way every year, hosting a reception in honour and appreciation of groups and people from around the country who have made a particular contribution to Irish society.
Last year, the St. Patrick’s Day reception celebrated the achievements of women working in the fields of science and technology. In 2016 the President honoured the Naval service for their lifesaving work in the Mediterranean.
In addition to hosting this event at Áras an Uachtaráin, the President will send a St. Patrick’s Day message to Irish people at home and worldwide through Ireland’s network of Embassies and Missions abroad. The message will also be available on www.president.ie
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NOTES
· Each year, famous buildings and city landmarks around the world are turned green in honour of St Patrick’s Day. This year over 300 stadiums, statues, museums and towers all over the globe are set to go green to mark Ireland's national day. At the request of President Higgins, so will Áras an Uachtaráin.
· More than 70 million people around the world claim links to the island of Ireland and St Patrick’s Day provides an opportunity for them, and for people around the world, to re-connect with Irish heritage and Irish culture.
President Michael D. Higgins has on many occasions spoken about the importance of the Irish diaspora, saying that the Irish family “is not defined by national borders or territories” but rather by “care, compassion, a common culture and a consciousness of our historical experience.”
On his recent State Visit to Greece, the President also spoke of Migration, Solidarity and the importance of Diaspora.
The full texts of the President’s speeches are available on www.president.ie
A light in Áras an Uachtaráin symbolises the Irish nation's links with its emigrants.