Ireland

President Higgins welcomes guests to summer garden party

Community groups and families welcomed with warm words and wide smiles

Orla Hetherington introduces her assistance dog Drew to the President’s Bernese Mountain Dogs, Shadow and Brod, with parents and representatives from Angelman Syndrome Ireland , Fiona Sutton, Ashling Kearns (Hidden) Sara Hetherington , Valerie Kavanagh and Aishling Cullen at the fourth of seven garden parties hosted by President and Sabina Higgins at Aras an Uachtaráin. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times

Pamela Duncan
Wed Jul 2 2014 - 19:45

With warm words and wide smiles President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina welcomed community groups, families and individuals all of who filed through the drawing room of Áras an Uachtaráin.

Each guest was given their own personal welcome, the President and his wife posing for photos in front of the artwork presented by the Ballindine Art Group, offering warm handshakes to the members of the Rural Community Network from Northern Ireland, a hug from Mrs Higgins for a young girl in a wheelchair.

Each of the groups got a few minutes each and you got the impression that every one of the over 350 people present felt genuinely welcome.

After all they were the guests of honour at today’s garden party, an event which, the President noted was held to “pay tribute to communities, wherever they are working in whatever way”.

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“There is so much to celebrate,” he said, addressing the members of 35 community groups and more than 100 individuals who gathered in a large marquee on the beautifully manicured lawns of the Áras garden.

“That sense of solidarity with others, that sense of unity, of kinship, of belonging is something...(people) associate with Ireland. It’s a very important aspect of our identity.

“If we are to have a full sense of citizenship, if that is to be realised it is very, very important to take our part, in our time, in creating and nurturing a vibrant and forward-thinking society that includes every member and enables them to fully participate in our shared lives,” he added.

He received a standing ovation from the invited guests as he finished his speech and sat down to enjoy the entertainment.

MC for the day’s event was Today’s FM presenter Ray d’Arcy with music from the Thomas MacDonagh Pipe Band, Rackhouse Pilfer, We Bango 3, Little Johnny Nee and Margo, all of who are provided their services for free and spoke of their honour at taking part.

The event is the fourth of seven garden parties which will be hosted by the President this summer, a tradition which began during Douglas Hyde’s presidency,events which, this summer alone, will see over 2,500 people welcomed into Áras an Uachtaráin.

After the entertainers left the stage the President made his way outside, posing for photos and mingling with his guests, Ireland’s first citizen contributing to their sense of community.