Tag Archives: President Michael D Higgings

This morning’s funeral mass of Tras Honan heard she was a beacon of hope, justice and equality and, through her strong beliefs and perseverance, she broke barriers. Her son, TV Honan told mourners at St Joseph’s Church, Ennis on Thursday of last week the word ‘formidable’ had been used many times to describe his mother, and both he, his sister Ann, father Derry and the extended family could testify to that. Describing his mother’s passing he said, “a giant tree has fallen gently in the forest in the loving hands of the gentle team at Kilbarry Care Centre in Waterford.” “Tras was a republican in every sense of the word. She believed in the value of the state, and the people in the state, and if people needed a hand, they should get it. Now we are here to give Tras a hand and bring her back to Derry. Tras is and will remain our lovely rose of Clare,” he …

THE town of Ennis has been firmly in the national spotlight recently with a visit from President Michael D Higgins as well as a full episode of RTÉ’s Nationwide dedicated to the hard working volunteers of Ennis Tidy Towns. On Saturday President Higgins and his wife Sabine arrived in the county capital for the unveiling of a plaque to mark Ennis’ achievement in winning the 2021 Tidy Town Competition. The couple also visited the Samaritans branch on the Kilrush Road to mark the charity’s 40th anniversary. The unveiling of the plaque took place at the president’s Alma Mater of St Flannan’s College where they were greeted by a guard of honour as well as some young local musicians. The Ennis Brass Band played the Presidential Salute as the guests of honour made their way through the audience of invited guests including other members of Tidy Towns committees across the county. President Higgins described the overall Tidy Towns award as not …

An event to mark the start of the State Ceremonial Programme in 2016 will take place in Dublin Castle this Friday. The New Year’s Day ceremony will be attended by the President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Lord Mayor Críona Ní Dhálaigh, Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys. It will comprise two key elements – the reading by the Defence Forces of the Roll of Honour of those volunteers who lost their lives during the 1916 Rising, followed by a flag raising ceremony. This will involve the raising of the three flags which were flown on O’Connell Street in Easter 1916 – the Irish Citizens Army Flag, which was flown from the Imperial Hotel on O’Connell Street; the Irish Republican Flag and the National Flag, which were both flown from the GPO . The ceremony will conclude with the playing of the National Anthem. Music will be provided by the Military Band …