New President Michael D Higgins addresses  ‘involuntary emigration’ and reaching out to Diaspora

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Ireland's new president Michael D Higgins

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However, he also spoke of hope for the future of Ireland and using the people of Ireland to rebuild the country.

He commented on how the Irish had changed over during the ‘Celtic Tiger’ period on commented on the positive changes in the community he had witnessed since the collapse of the economy.

“In more recent years, we saw the rise of a different kind of individualism - closer to an egotism based on purely material considerations - that tended to value the worth of a person in terms of the accumulation of wealth rather then their fundamental dignity. That was our loss, the source in part, of our present difficulties.”

However, he continued: ”Now it is time to turn to an older wisdom that, while respecting material comfort and security as a basic right of all, also recognizes that many of the most valuable things in life cannot be measured.

“Our successes after all in the eyes of so many in the world have been in the cultural and spiritual areas - in our humanitarian, peace-building and human rights work - in our literature, art, drama and song - and in how that drama and song have helped us cope with adversity, soothed the very pain which they describe so well, and opened the space for new possibilities.

“Our arts celebrate the people talking, singing, dancing and ultimately communing with each other. This is what James Connolly meant when he said that: "Ireland without her people means nothing to me.”

For the full text of his speech – click here.

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