President Michael D Higgins delivers his Christmas address to the nation

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins said today that Irish citizens must work together to renew and redouble their efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Speaking as part of his annual address to the nation, the president recognized the difficult year families across the country have had, especially by focusing on the difficult times faced by vulnerable people.

“For vulnerable groups, however, the impact of Covid-19 has been enormously magnified,” said President Higgins.

“I can suggest that the compassion, caring, and empathy that we extend to such groups will define how history will remember these times.”

Challenges

President Higgins praised the fact that people across the country have made difficult sacrifices due to the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

“In 2020, when we came together to face the challenge of a global pandemic, we were asked to undertake a demanding adjustment to our lifestyle, one that has required considerable resilience, self-sacrifice and compassion from all of us.”

Let me, as President, say how gratifying it has been to see the great expression of generosity that has been shown during this difficult time.

According to the president, the sacrifices also extended to those who cannot travel and see their loved ones this Christmas. However, he believes that those who cannot “will be connected in spirit during the holiday season.”

A new Ireland

President Higgins stressed that the people must walk forward in “hope and solidarity” and that we will choose the way forward for Ireland.

“Now that we are at a watershed moment in our nation’s history, let us choose together how we wish to write this next chapter; how we wish to shape a new Ireland waiting to be born.

“It is an Ireland that can be better for our reflection on what we want to value, an Ireland that can better address our shared existence, our shared vulnerability and our interdependence, all of our relationships,” said the President.