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Home Page > News > Irish president Michael D Higgins asks for Irish American support for Ireland

Irish president Michael D Higgins asks for Irish American support for Ireland

Says Irish people feel “righteous anger” over what has occurred there

JAMES O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 7:09 AM

Updated Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 9:39 AM

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President of Ireland Michael D Higgins with his wife Sabina

Photo by Google Images

New Irish president Michael D Higgins met with 300 Irish community leaders in New York last night and asked them to help “make an Irishness of which we can be proud”.

He told the audience that “Irish people are hurting from the recession” and are “dismayed that the transient, artificially-based, property-based economic bubble...has turned into ashes”.

Higgins was elected to the seven-year term in October and this is his first visit to the US as President.

Higgins was guest of honor at a reception which, because of the numbers, was held on the ground floor of the building that houses the Irish Consulate in New York.

Hundreds stood in line waiting to meet the new Irish president who is on a six-day visit to New York and Boston.

Higgins also spoke of the “righteous anger” that Irish people feel “that various institutions and individuals betrayed the trust placed in them”.

He stated that Ireland had gone through “a period of deep distress...economic uncertainty and the scourge of high levels of unemployment”.

He stated that despite that Ireland was in a recovery mode from the recession and he stated that there was “encouraging news” about the country.

The president has 25 events lined up over the time of his trip. On Tuesday night he will speak at the American Irish Historical Society, in New York, while earlier meeting with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

He will attend a Broadway showing of the Irish musical “Once” on Wednesday night and the American Ireland Fund dinner on Thursday night, which will also feature Brian Moynihan, the CEO of Bank of America.

In Boston he will speak at the Famine commemoration event there as well as at the Self Help Africa ball.

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seanomelb | May 07, 2012, 07:39 PM EDT

I am Dublin born living in Australia. I set my own agenda on what topic I wish to post on, not your narrow minded hate topics which have no credence or commonsense. I did not attack Australia, I attacked pedophilia everywhere including Australia and you have your nose out of joint because I named an Anglican Archbishop who was accused of covering up Pedophilia in the protestant church and had to resign as Governor General. You on the other hand only see religious bigotry and blame the Irish for the unemployment rate in Britain,you are a bigoted fool and I chose to set my own agenda and cut you off. I'm done talking to a mean spirited hateful individual.

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allan07 | May 07, 2012, 04:29 AM EDT

@seanomelb In your total ignorance you can explain nothing to me. NOTHING! Here you go again wishing to talk about Australia. You are very selective in your argument always picking another country such as Australia. Lets talk about GB and in particular the cities of Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and London. I ask the question again which you have very carefully avoided. Since there are many unemployed English and Scottish young people in Liverpool, Manchester, London and Glasgow why the Irish such as yourself think that employment should be given to them over the English, Scottish and other British people. Like Gordon Brown said "British jobs for BRITISH people". So the Republic of Ireland citizens should NOT be given employment in Britain. You have had your independence for 90 years and you still expect the British to support you. No way. "You have made your bed so lie in it". Even after been loaned £10 billion by Britain you then wish to steal our jobs. Your on your own. Sink or swim. I am not anti-Irish you fool I am Northern Irish and British. I was born in Tyrone and 100% British. 90 years of independence and the Republic is a failed state like Ethiopia. The Irish are doing the same to the US. Wanting E3 passport visas which will allow them to obtain emplolment in the US. (Even over the US citizens whom were born there). How two faced can the Irish be. If the Irish can't support their own wear a condom. Simples except to fools like you.

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seanomelb | May 06, 2012, 07:03 PM EDT

In your total ignorance of the Australian economy I will explain. Australia has a shortage of labour especially in the "trades" it is one of the worlds strongest economy's.Maybe you should focus on the sad state of your European economy of which you are a member.I can only say once again I condemn all pedophilia. You are bogged down in your anti Catholic anti Irish rhetoric and boring. Unless you have something intelligent or different to say please sign off.I have better things to do with my time.

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allan07 | May 06, 2012, 08:52 AM EDT

@seanomelb Do NOT worry about Australia or the crimes committed or alleged to have been committed there. Focus on the paedophile criminal acts being committed in Ireland. Ie. The Head of the Roman Catholic Church (Brady)in IRELAND obtained the names, addresses and details given to him by the victims of his Church and then doing NOTHING about it. He didn't go to the police. Why not? Isn't that criminal behaviour in itself? Perverting the course of justice its called. Deliberating not passing on information about criminal behaviour and by not doing so allowed more criminal behaviour to be carried out. He is a free thinking person. By not going to the Police, Brady allowed paedophile criminal acts within his Church to continue. From 1975 to the present. For 46 years he did nothing. Brady was supposed to have passed on the information to others in higher authority so of he did why didn't they act? All whom were in knowledge should have gone to the police but they did nothing. The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland has covered up the criminal activities of priests within its organisation. In short they are bang to rights and should be behind bars for many years. They should now be charged with perverting the course of justice. With regard to the Irish leaving for Australia they are taking employment from Australians. So dont be upset if the Polish take up employment in Dublin. There are many unemployed English young people in Liverpool and Manchester who deserve to be employed but the Irish are stealing employment from them. (In their own country). How two faced can you be?

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seanomelb | May 05, 2012, 06:58 PM EDT

First of all I do not read fairytales.I don't abuse polish people in Ireland and if some Irish people wish to emigrate to Australia good on them.I can assure you there are immigrants coming in from Britain as well as Ireland. I'm not finger pointing at Australia. Australia like Europe(of which you are are part of)have documented cases of pedophilia. Your post is nonsensical and fails to make a genuine point.Quoting the bible seems to be your fall back position when you have nothing tangible to say.

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allan07 | May 05, 2012, 05:07 AM EDT

@seanomeb here you go again finger pointing at the Australians. As if by finding another example somewhere else in the world it someway makes its correct that paedophile acts are not happening in the Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland. Matthew 7.3 and i quote from the King James Version of the bible QUOTE "You Hypocrite, first Cast out the beam out of your eye: and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother's eye" UNQUOTE. In other words leave the problems in Australia to the people of Australia to resolve and fix your own before you finger point. In so many ways the Irish are masters at this trick. Eg. Many are racist against coloured people and EU people and accuse them of stealing employment in Ireland. No other nation such as the Irish have moved around the planet and stolen employment from the people who have lived there. Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Boston USA are extremely good examples. Its a typical case of wanting to keep their cake and eat it at the same time. Why abuse Polish people in Dublin and then expect Irish people to seek employment in Australia. It speaking with fork tongue. The Irish are masters at speaking with fork tongue. Do you not think that in Liverpool or Manchester there are no unemployed English young people whom are seeking employment and this has been stolen from them by the Irish. Matthew 7.3 refers. Read it for yourself. To understand it is more important.

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seanomelb | May 04, 2012, 11:36 PM EDT

There you go again making false accusations now what did Jesus say about that,you're a little sanctimonious I would think. I have been a strong advocate on this site for the imprisonment of all those responsible for pedophilia including the Church of england retired archbishop of Brisbane who stepped down as Governor General of Australia for his roll in covering up pedophilia in the protestant church. I have written hundreds of pieces over the years condemning pedophilia in the Catholic church unlike you my memory is not selective in pursuit of any offenders. You justify your whole being in all posts denigrating the Catholic church (of which I am not a follower)on this site. You're an anti Irish,anti catholic bigot and you try to hard to hide the fact.

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darrenokeffee | May 04, 2012, 05:31 PM EDT

HA,HA,Nice 1 M.D spend all your life giving out about american imperialism and its support for dictators and the chance of a trip to the great satan and you go all fawning and weak at the knee whats next for the government jet a trip to your other friends?? in the middle east quote us a bit of poetry there mick will ya.champagne socialist you'd better believe it. i support both countries rights to defend themselves by any means,rather be with em then agin em

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allan07 | May 04, 2012, 12:01 PM EDT

@seanomelb I am anti many things yes but what makes my blood boil is people like you who always finger point at others and the wrong doing they are alleged to have committed whilst not looking in your own back yard. Wasn't it Jesus said "Cast a moat of thee own eye first". So when its comes to the indescent sexual behaviour of the Roman Catholic Church I never hear a Roman Catholic (devout ot otherwise) state their anger at the Church. Has every Roman Catholic lost their tongues. No. Then whats happened to stating the truth when paedophile acts have been conducted by the priests of the Roman Catholic Church over many years? Why does no-one want to talk about these important matters? If not then why not? Life have been damaged and people have suffered. Some have been scarred for life and some have committed suicide. If a Clergyman of the Protestant Churches carried out criminal acts then I would condemn their behaviour. Roman Catholics just go into silent mode as if they have taken a vow of silence. If a teacher had committed the crimes the priests have committed would you be so quiet? NO. What is the difference? NONE. So why act differently towards these paedophiles? They are no different to Gary Glitter except he didnt use religion to hide behind. A teacher would be sacked on the grounds of gross misconduct but these priests are being shielded by their employer? Why? Its stinks and people like you @seanomelb just play it down as if its a minor mistake. Its criminal behaviour. They should be serving time for many years. But no they are Roman Catholic priests the law of the land is different for them. Discrimination in every sense of the word. Their criminal behaviour doesn't deserve descent people to support it. By saying nothing then you are supporting it. So stop supporting criminal behaviour by acting the way you do.

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seanomelb | May 03, 2012, 10:43 PM EDT

alan07 Ciara and Stevenfallingstar both have a swipe at yours truly and you do not admonish them for doing so,I can only conclude that you believe some people can make derogatory statements and others cannot. As for your illogical reasonings in justifying your point of view I find them amusing. You are anti Irish anti Catholic and you will swim in any sewer to lend credence to your point of view.

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allan07 | May 03, 2012, 03:28 PM EDT

@seanomelb if you are shown to the world that your talking rubbish your response is to start name calling. Abusing everyone else who has a different opinion even if they back up their opinion with facts, examples and references from books, internet and other sources. Not very wise in a debate. Why not put your point across and cross reference it with a source? (because you cant as its made up). Your last post had a swipe at Ciara, Stevenstar and myself. Not bad in one post. As for Higgins the president of the Republic of Ireland i dont care a flying frog. Hes the president of a foreign country the Republic of Ireland. I am more interested in the head of China or other Mongolia. We here in Northern Ireland have our Queen as head and she is doing a good job. Jubilee year and all that.

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sirpeter | May 02, 2012, 10:06 PM EDT

aloistmartin.You mean America don't have enough Poor,Ignorant and Mongrel Races?Are you sure ye want more?

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seanomelb | May 02, 2012, 08:09 PM EDT

Ciara you are entitled to you inept opinion and how long did I live in Ireland??. Allan 07 we are posting here on a different subject,you and Stevenfallingstar need to get out of that rut your brains are in. Hey Stevenfallingstar I live in a nice big home drive a European car and have loads of cash did not have a uni education and I think my written English is superior to yours,oops I forgot to mention the cabin cruiser.Your full of ignorant crap and thats from a good old working class Dublin boy you turd.

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aloistmartin | May 02, 2012, 06:58 PM EDT

Give me Your Poor, Your Ignorant, Your Mongrel Races yearning to Breath Free ?

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clevelander | May 02, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT

@stevenstar Wow the bigotry, hate and intolerance you have for others speaks volumes of who you are. I can assure you that not one of your assumptions of me is accurate or fair. For a self proclaimed educated woman, you sure do go right to the gutter and insult people instead of real debate. Not something I would expect from an educated woman. I have been thru American Immigration many a time. I have no problem with it. I am not doing anything to be afraid of, so I go with the flow and get on with out a care. Also please tell me one time just one time I have ever said a bad word about the English people. They are like everyone else. Some bigots (like you) some great,some not so good. It's the English Gov't I do not agree with. I will not change, my attitude is OK with me. If you don't like it do not read my post's. Have a nice day you bigot.

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