Latest news with #MichaelDHiggins
BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Tens of thousands expected to take part in Dublin's Pride parade
Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in Dublin's Pride parade on Saturday. The organisers said the event also celebrates a milestone 10 years of marriage equality. Advertisement Thousands will make their way through Dublin city for the annual parade ahead of speeches and entertainment in Merrion Square's Pride Village. President Michael D. Higgins has sent a message to all those celebrating Pride today and across the summer — President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) June 28, 2025 The parade will start at O'Connell Street at around 12:30pm, and travel along Eden Quay and Custom House Quay before crossing the Talbot Memorial Bridge, up Lombard Street and Westland Row before finishing at Merrion Square. The non-ticketed festival at the Pride Village will include music, food stalls, acts and speeches on the main stage. In his last year as president, Michael D Higgins offered his warmest greetings to all those marking Pride 2025. Advertisement He said: 'This annual celebration is a vital affirmation of the rights, dignity, and joy of our LGBT+ communities. 'It is a time, too, to remember with gratitude the courage of those who paved the way for progress when marching was not safe, who gave voice to truths that were long silenced, and who set the foundations for the inclusive Ireland that we continue to strive towards today. 'In recent years, great strides have been made in advancing the rights and recognition of LGBT+ people in Ireland. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dublin Pride (@dublinpride) 'In celebrating Pride this year, we are also marking the 10th anniversary of the Marriage Equality referendum, a moment that spoke of the kind of Ireland we aspire to be: inclusive, generous, an Ireland that is unafraid to affirm the equal worth of all of our citizens. 'Yet, we must also acknowledge that the journey is not complete. Advertisement 'A truly inclusive society is one where all can live authentically and creatively, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, where all can participate fully, and where all voices are not only heard but valued, in all their richness and diversity. Ireland Weekend weather to be warm with next week bringing... Read More 'Pride remains a vital expression of that vision in challenging us to deepen our commitment to human rights, to solidarity, and to the kind of republic that cherishes all of its people equally. 'In a time when hard-won rights are being questioned in many parts of the world, such vigilance and unity are more vital than ever.' There will be road closures in the city centre. Advertisement
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Tens of thousands expected to take part in Dublin's Pride parade
Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in Dublin's Pride parade on Saturday. The organisers said the event also celebrates a milestone 10 years of marriage equality. Thousands will make their way through Dublin city for the annual parade ahead of speeches and entertainment in Merrion Square's Pride Village. President Michael D. Higgins has sent a message to all those celebrating Pride today and across the summer — President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) June 28, 2025 The parade will start at O'Connell Street at around 12.30pm, and travel along Eden Quay and Custom House Quay before crossing the Talbot Memorial Bridge, up Lombard Street and Westland Row before finishing at Merrion Square. The non-ticketed festival at the Pride Village will include music, food stalls, acts and speeches on the main stage. In his last year as president, Michael D Higgins offered his warmest greetings to all those marking Pride 2025. He said: 'This annual celebration is a vital affirmation of the rights, dignity, and joy of our LGBT+ communities. 'It is a time, too, to remember with gratitude the courage of those who paved the way for progress when marching was not safe, who gave voice to truths that were long silenced, and who set the foundations for the inclusive Ireland that we continue to strive towards today. 'In recent years, great strides have been made in advancing the rights and recognition of LGBT+ people in Ireland. 'In celebrating Pride this year, we are also marking the 10th anniversary of the Marriage Equality referendum, a moment that spoke of the kind of Ireland we aspire to be: inclusive, generous, an Ireland that is unafraid to affirm the equal worth of all of our citizens. 'Yet, we must also acknowledge that the journey is not complete. 'A truly inclusive society is one where all can live authentically and creatively, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, where all can participate fully, and where all voices are not only heard but valued, in all their richness and diversity. 'Pride remains a vital expression of that vision in challenging us to deepen our commitment to human rights, to solidarity, and to the kind of republic that cherishes all of its people equally. 'In a time when hard-won rights are being questioned in many parts of the world, such vigilance and unity are more vital than ever.' There will be road closures in the city centre.
Irish Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on the next election: anyone for the presidency?
Who would run for president of Ireland? Not many , to judge from the long list of potential candidates who have already ruled themselves out of the contest to succeed Michael D Higgins when his second term ends in November. There are a multitude of reasons for early contenders to opt out. Some know they would not win. Others have been told, or have come to realise, that they would not secure their party's nomination. For frontline politicians or those with ambitions to serve in government, the thought of occupying a largely ceremonial role in the relatively sleepy surroundings of the Phoenix Park for at least seven years may not be all that enticing. The high financial cost of running a campaign is also no doubt a factor. But it is surely undeniable that the bruising, even brutal, nature of recent Irish presidential campaigns is also deterring prospective nominees from putting their names forward. There is a long list of candidates from previous elections, including people of real standing and professional accomplishment, who say the campaign left them feeling damaged or humiliated. To anyone who values the democratic system, that's regrettable, and everyone– including parties, candidates and the media – must reflect on it. At the same time, it is vital that candidates for such an important office are subjected to serious, robust scrutiny. Candidates complain that it's all about playing the man – or woman – and not the ball. The problem is that, in presidential elections, there is no ball. The president has no executive powers and virtually no influence on policy. Their influence is softer, more nebulous and symbolic. Campaign discussions about housing or healthcare or taxation are useful only insofar as they provide an insight into the personality and worldview of the individual. READ MORE Ultimately, a presidential election is about finding the personality whom the electorate deems most suitable to represent the country and its values at a particular moment. In their different ways, each of the last three presidents have done exactly that, embodying an outlook or a set of preoccupations that both reflected – and helped to define – their eras. To say that the president's power is largely symbolic is not to imply that the role is less important. On the contrary. It is vested with important constitutional functions that require sound judgment and sharp political instincts. It is in many ways a harder role to fill than most other public office because the holder must have that rare ability to both understand politics and stand above it, to show a deep, sophisticated knowledge of the Irish experience and the ability to articulate a national vision that transcends day-to-day preoccupations. If that person is to be found, the strongest candidates must enter the contest.
Irish Examiner
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Michael D Higgins: EU must go further to stop Israel's war on Gaza
European countries must 'go further' to prevent Israel from continuing its war in Gaza, President Michael D Higgins has said. Mr Higgins has said there is a 'clear' finding that Israel has breached the terms of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, as he criticised the use of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation by the Israeli authorities. The President said: The time has now come to go further. The finding that Israel is in breach of the human rights obligations of the EU-Israel Association Agreement is clear. 'Now is the time for an immediate call for action and assistance from the international community to ensure that no more time is lost, that there is no further loss of life as people exercise the impossible choice between risking their lives to access aid or starving. 'This is a call that I know has become ever stronger on the European Street.' Mr Higgins quoted the head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, who described the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as a 'death trap' and an 'an abomination that humiliates and degrades desperate people'. 'It is imperative in this context that, as called for in a resolution overwhelmingly passed at the United Nations earlier this month, that UNRWA are allowed to resume their work in Gaza as the backbone of the humanitarian response,' he said. 'Calls for countries to alternatively fund an alternative system, one which has been described in the stark terms which I have quoted, amounts to no less than an attempt to undermine the United Nations and its vital work.' The President welcomed comments earlier this week by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who described the EU's response to the crisis in Gaza as a 'stain' on the bloc. He added while attacks in Gaza remain ongoing, people living in the West Bank 'continue to be subjected to killings and attacks by violent members of those living in illegal settlements with the full support of the Israeli military'.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
‘Love you all, it's been a privilege': Joe Duffy presents last Liveline as he retires from RTÉ
The Taoiseach and President led tributes to Joe Duffy as he presented his last Liveline programme on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday. The veteran presenter is retiring from the station after 37 years, signing off as one of the most influential and popular broadcasters in Irish media. He has hosted Liveline, which frequently attracted more than 400,000 listeners, since 1998. During a special live show on Friday afternoon, RTÉ's Shay Byrne read out a message from President Michael D Higgins , who praised Duffy's 'lifelong commitment to justice, equality and public service'. The President extended 'the warmest of thanks on behalf of the Irish people for your remarkable contribution to public life, one that you have shaped with empathy, insight and an unwavering commitment to the voices of ordinary people'. READ MORE He continued: 'Through your work, you have borne witness to the struggles and triumphs of the Irish people, often giving voice to those on the margins and creating a space in which silence could be broken and solidarity expressed, reminding us that behind every headline is a human story, reminding us too that our society is strengthened by the lived experiences of its people.' Earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin called in to the show, telling Duffy: 'You were and are the voice of the people.' Noting how influential the programme was, Martin said there were many afternoons where a civil servant would run into his office saying a certain topic was 'on fire' on Liveline, meaning the Government would have to 'do this, that and the other'. Martin said he and Duffy go way back, saying: 'You taught me a few things when I was a student activist.' Before Duffy quipped: 'You forgot them quick enough then.' On a more personal note, Martin thanked Duffy for his 'extraordinary' acts of kindness, adding: 'That has touched our family quite a lot.' Recalling how they were both at a crab fishing competition in Courtmacsherry in Co Cork years ago, Martin said that Duffy had, unbeknown to him, taken photos of him holding his young daughter Leana while they looked out to sea. The Taoiseach said it was 'one of the last great days' his family had with Leana, who died in 2010 from a cardiac condition when she was just seven years old. After Leana died, Duffy sent him the photos. 'That's something [my wife] Mary and I have always treasured, and we thank you,' Martin said. [ Micheál Martin: 'You will always say you have the kids you lost' Opens in new window ] At the start of the show, Duffy noted he wasn't 'allowed' into the studio until 'about two minutes' before they went on air. There were many familiar faces in the crowd including long-time friends and colleagues Brenda Donohue and June Rodgers, and several Liveline listeners who the show helped over the years. Duffy joked that he recognised a number of people in the audience from Crime Call. Live music was performed by the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band and the Camembert Quartet, who opened the show with a special rendition of Thank You for Being a Friend, among others. Duffy noted the Liveline would be open as normal on Monday, even if he wasn't there. Signing off for the last time, he kept it short and sweet: 'Love you all, it's been a privilege.'
