Higgins hosts 100 visitors at final afternoon tea reception of his presidency

Michael D Higgins has hosted a young poet, trade unionists and a tree charity at one of his last official engagements as Irish president.

Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina held an afternoon tea reception on Wednesday, two days before people vote for who will replace him for the next seven years.

Among the 100 visitors were scientists from the University of Galway who, in collaboration with astronomers in other universities, discovered a new planet earlier this year using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

Members from the Inniskillings Museum in Enniskillen also attended, which loaned the green harp flag that flew over Liberty Hall in 1916 to Siptu for the centenary of the Rising in 2016, which Mr Higgins accepted back to Liberty Hall as president.

Also in attendance were members of Crann, a charity promoting the sustainable use and conservation of trees and forests in Ireland, members of Animal Help Net Kerry, and Oisin Large and his parents, who wrote to Mr Higgins to highlight Oisin’s poem Lament For Palestine, which was published in the Wicklow Times in June.

Mr Higgins said: “With my presidential term drawing to a close, today’s event marks the final afternoon tea that I will host mar Uachtaran na hEireann.

“The many events such as this which Sabina and I have held over the past 14 years have been occasions to witness the moral leadership and unstinting efforts of so many people throughout the country working towards the creation of a just and equal world.

“May I suggest that such efforts represent the best expressions of an active, engaged and inclusive citizenship, one that demonstrates a commitment to a better future founded on principles of solidarity and recognition of the dignity of all members of our shared global family.

“Over the past 14 years I have been constantly reminded that, in spite of all the challenges we face, there remains within the Irish people a profound and unyielding commitment to seeing beyond the self, to seeing the ‘other’ as friend, the principles of generosity, compassion, kindness, decency and care for one another.

“Mar fhocal scoir (the Irish for ‘a final word’), may I express again my gratitude to each and every one of you for the individual and collective contribution that you have all made to our country in your different capacities, for your friendship, for your spirit of inclusion and endeavour, demonstrating what can be achieved from the values of social inclusion, participative citizenship and sustainable living, as we work towards crafting a flourishing Republic that is responsive to the great challenges of our times and the achieving of an inclusive, peaceful and sustainable future for all on our shared, precious planet.”

His office said Mr Higgins had hosted 15,000 to 20,000 members of the public at the official residence of the Irish president, Aras an Uachtarain, each year.

His office said this has included groups such as members of the Traveller community, migrants and refugees, those who have lost family members in the conflict in Northern Ireland, the LGBT community, and women who had been in the Magdalene institutions.

Among the events were summer garden parties in the Aras grounds, concerts, and celebrations for Brigid’s Day, International Women’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, May Day, Culture Night, and turning on the Christmas tree lights.