Tuesday 30 October 2018

Michael D rocking Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park,

There's a few videos on this Blog but all are worth watching.

After yesterday's  depressing blog on the Presidential  election in Brazil belated but cheering note that Michael D Higgins has welcomed his re-election as president of Ireland as a vote for hope over fear.


He secured his second term in office with a landslide margin of more than 55% of the vote.
All 40 constituencies around Ireland were declared shortly after 7.30pm.  on Saturday Some 1,492,338 people voted.
Mr Higgins said: “The people have made a choice as to which version of Irishness they want reflected at home and abroad.
“It is the making of hope they wish to share rather than the experience of any exploitation of division or fear.”
He said his version of Ireland is one which draws on traditional genius and contemporary creativity.
“The presidency belongs not only to any one person but to the people of Ireland.
“I will be a president for all the people, for those who voted for me and those who did not.


I am so proud of this country, I am proud to be a president for all of you and with all of you, and I look forward with joy and hope to all that we will achieve together.
The response from outside Ireland has been positive , but perhaps  2Welsh Labour AM Alun Davies reaches a level of absurdity, though you  can see Michel D victory speech.
  1. Can I have an Irish passport please?


You may well ask Alun why he is not arguing for a Welsh passport  and our President of the Welsh Republic.




The only sour note Businessman Peter Casey, initially an outside contender whose last-minute surge in the polls following critical comments about the Travelling community saw him propelled into second place, got 23% of the vote.


Senior Fianna Fail politicians have poured cold water on the prospect of controversial presidential candidate Peter Casey joining their ranks and running for the Irish parliament in the next general election.
In the wake of his shock second place finish in the presidential poll, the businessman has been quoted expressing a desire not only to join the party but also to ultimately lead it back into government and become Taoiseach.

But it's Michael D whowe celebrate He is the subject of the song  of probably the finest  tribute song  to a living politician,"Michael D. Rocking in the Dáil" by popular Tuam band The Saw Doctors. The song first appeared as a B-side on the 1994 single "Small Bit of Love" and is also on the 2002 compilation Play It Again, Sham!


Although He has used his time in office to address issues concerning justicesocial equalitysocial inclusion, anti-sectarianismanti-racism and reconciliation. The role Uachtarán na hÉireann is largely non-political.

But we can get the true flavour of the man from this, before he was elected, (Warning he does use an expletive)


Ever since Mary Robinson won the Presidency of the Republic inn 1990, she and her successors , have held the office with dignity and humanity and a light to the World.
It's a pity we in Wales are not prepared to elect a man or woman to a similar position.

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