Michael D Higgins to visit Derry on first official presidential outing

He was born in LIMERICK - brought up by an Uncle and Aunt in CLARE then moved to GALWAY. Quote:" It is of Galway that I am". So take your pick! Nothing wrong with him rattling around in Dev's old banger - just so long as he doesn't pick up any of his ideas! > > > His Border-Busting trip to 'Derry' is curious ... probably to rub Loser McGuinness's nose deeper in it! > > > I hope they have used the proper Diplomatic Protocol and applied to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for permission to enter her Country. - Now he's a President, he can't just go wandering about all over the place like a stray dog where-ever the fancy takes him!

Rumour has it that he will indeed co-opt the other six presidential candidates onto is Council-of-State, togther with Ulster-Scot citizens of the republic who hail from a unionist/loyalist/protestant tradtion. That would make his presidency truly rainbowesque beyond wildest imagination.

As a Labour Party supporter I voted for a McGuinness presidency, not because I disrespected Michael D[aniel] less, but because I valued the potent symbolism of a second national president more. He may go for a rainbow presidency by co-opting other candidates - McG... incl.

Would recommend watching Michael D[aniel]'s last speech to Dail Eireann on YouTube after 20 years there. Talks about how a real republic was subverted by radically individualistic Me Feiners very early on. What partitioned Ireland was power-hungry sons of peasant farmer stock too hungry for social repectability. Wouldn't be the first time in political history where personal self-interest subverted representative democracy.

@FallsRNat Enough was done during Mary McAleese's presidency to reach out to the Unionist/loyalist side of the divide. This was a great thing, don't get me wrong, but isn't it about time that the focus shifts a little to the nationalist side? After all, the southern state abandoned them, and what did they get?

is the president of ireland truly wants to be a man for all of the people shouldn't he visit the Shankill or Tigers Bay 1st, going to a nationalist area is hardly condusive of that, unless of course he is going to walk over the peace bridge into the waterside.

And so he should go there to thank Martin McGuiness and offer to create four jobs for Derrymen.

That's the way to go Michael D.Up you go and tell them you are president of All Ireland.