Clare’s third President

CLARE County Council this week bestowed its highest honour on Ireland’s first citizen at a reception held at Áras Contae an Chláir last Thursday.

The civic reception honoured President Michael D Higgins highlighting his Clare roots and Mayor of Clare Pat Hayes said the county was proud to call President Higgins one of their own.
The President was joined by his wife, Sabina, last Thursday, while his brother, John, and sister, Kathleen as well as some old school friends from his time in St Flannan’s also attended the ceremony in the council chamber.

Welcoming the President, Mayor Hayes said, “Everyone wants to lay claim to a President and indeed you follow a great tradition here in Clare following on from President de Valera, and President Hillery. We are very proud of that fact that you are from here. It is a great day for us all here. You were always a champion of causes and that is an important thing and duly, you fought your way through the political system and ended up in the highest honour in the country. Indeed, we are very honoured you have done this. All through your life, you have fought many a cause, we hope you continue to do that in your role as President because there is no doubt there is injustice across the world and we need to continue to have people of your stature to fight and stand up for those causes.”

The President was also commended for his work in the arts giving it a certain dignity and opening it up to all. His work with the Samaritans was also acknowledged.

Addressing those present, President Higgins spoke of Clare’s very rich culture and history, which it cherishes.

“Clare is also, however, a county acutely aware that life is an ever-changing landscape, a landscape rich with possibilities for the days to come. It is a place prepared to move forward, to evolve and to constantly initiate exciting plans for its future. Clare has rich resources for sustainable development be it in the natural or human area,” the President said.

He added that the major aim of county’s development plan to “create an inclusive county of sustainable communities that each have respect for their environment, a sense of awareness of place, a sense of shared purpose and a sense of civic pride” is an important aim.

He said it acknowledges that “Ireland must go through a period of important transformation; a time when we must identify and celebrate our many possibilities, recognise the many valuable initiatives being developed within our communities and harness both these things to an innovation and original thinking that will move our country forward to better times”.

President Higgins said he was “deeply impressed” by the many positive initiatives in the county not only by the active participation of its citizens but also by the proactive policy of the council.

“There can be no doubt that Clare is a county dancing to a very lively beat.  Clare is a county that is rightly renowned internationally for its living music heritage. Pride and enthusiasm play a part in fostering an environment that can allow such a thriving culture and such an appreciation of heritage and I commend the many vibrant communities within County Clare that facilitate  this ongoing flourishing and sharing of our rich musical tradition,” he said.

While on the Presidential campaign last year, President Higgins said he referred to his early days in Clare, how they helped shape his belief in the necessity of social justice and also about compassion and the power of possibility even in difficult times.

“Today, Clare continues to be a place of creative possibility; a place that has not lost sight of the best of our past as it moves forward confidently into the future.

Clare is a contemporary, innovative society, which retains its warm and welcoming ways, its concern for the needs of all its citizens and its great sense of community,” he concluded.