Presidential Inauguration of Michael D. Higgins

Bloomsday

On RTE One now.

Anybody watching?

The humanist representative among the religious speakers is interesting.

Lady Chatterton

I think it is a beautiful ceremony, it is nice to see representatives of all faiths and none. I agree the inclusion of the Humanist representative was a nice touch by Michael D.

Tipsy McSwagger

Thank god it's not Sean Gallagher up there.

Bloomsday

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Thank god it's not Sean Gallagher up there.

I quake at the thought of what the ceremony would look like, a quango perhaps?

stargazer 68

We were just saying how long winded it was! Give him his house keys and let him get inside!

Tipsy McSwagger

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Thank god it's not Sean Gallagher up there.

We'd have to pay to see him if it was lol

caddy2

michael ds off, how long will the speech be?????

Iang87

no chance of just a house party for Michael D. Shut off the cameras and capture the results in the morning.

Maybe even a Mary Mcaleese walk of shame

Lady Chatterton

Bloomsday wrote: »

I quake at the thought of what the ceremony would look like, a quango perhaps?

Ah, Mary Davis was the quango queen in all fairness

Lady Chatterton

caddy2 wrote: »

michael ds off, how long will the speech be?????

He will have to wrap it up in time for the one o'clock news anyway.

sunbabe08

when i turned on first, i thought i was watching a mass. but it's nice that all the religious faiths were there

Bloomsday

This is the poem chosen by Higgins, that was sung earlier,

Beannacht

("Blessing")

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

~ John O'Donohue ~

Lady Chatterton

I wonder did Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese agree on a red and black dress code in advance of the ceremony

Bloomsday

MrsD007 wrote: »

I wonder did Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese agree on a red and black dress code in advance of the ceremony

I think McAleese copied Robinson, like usual :rolleyes:

Lady Chatterton

Bloomsday wrote: »

I think McAleese copied Robinson, like usual :rolleyes:

They are both looking very well in fairness

Lady Chatterton

Michael D is a wonderful orator. It is a joy to listen to him.

Bloomsday

MrsD007 wrote: »

They are both looking very well in fairness

They are indeed.

I must admit I'm a little biased, my godmother was advisor to Mary Robinson, both wonderful women.

Kristopherus

But will we be sick of him in 7 years ???????

sunbabe08

the worst of the weather is passing over dublin at the moment.


nah, i think we'll want more by the time 7 years is up. did i hear right that he only wants to do a 7 year term?

Molly007

It's a lovely ceremony, I wish him and Sabina well. Somehow he seems to be just the right man for the job. At least we can be proud of our presidents, whatever else is happening in the country.

Kerrydude1981

Pity the weather is brutal for this,for a fella with a bad knee he is moving fairly lively,he looks the part,right man got the job

Bloomsday

I love how the army escourt are marching around to a band playing Molly Malone and Finnegans Wake!

Satts

We do this very well, makes me proud to be Irish. His office is off to a good start, gives hope that things will come good, and we need hope more than anything else at the moment.

Mikosyko

Some if the crowd keep sticking cameras in his face seems a bit disrespectful :mad:

squonk

What car is he using? I'd heard he wasn't going to use the official Rolls-Royce but use instead Dev's Dodge from the museum in Ennis. Any one watching that can let me know?

Satts

squonk wrote: »

What car is he using? I'd heard he wasn't going to use the official Rolls-Royce but use instead Dev's Dodge from the museum in Ennis. Any one watching that can let me know?

Modern Merc. :mad:

squonk

Thanks! it's a shame! it'd have been nice to see at least one of the old cars . Maybe the weather put paid to the plan though?

Bloomsday

Best of luck to him, I'm very happy with his support for the arts, he's like a walking RTE, but with credibility.

Bloomsday

Here's his last speech in the Dail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJJ5q1_5jX8&feature=player_embedded

tayto lover

Enda Kenny saying in his speech how great and proud it is to be Irish and he giving our wealth away to foreign unguaranteed bond-holders. The cheek of him. He should ask the ordinary people in the street if they think its great to be Irish when they are paying for the shambles left by politicians of all hues.

Mikosyko

tayto lover wrote: »

Enda Kenny saying in his speech how great and proud it is to be Irish and he giving our wealth away to foreign unguaranteed bond-holders. The cheek of him.

I think you'll find it was his predecessors who were responsible for that.

JonathanAnon

Did Gay Mitchell show up today or is he still at home sulking and kicking the cat..

Skid

JonathanAnon wrote: »

Did Gay Mitchell show up today or is he still at home sulking and kicking the cat..

He was there Jon.

How big and statesmanlike of him to finally show an ounce of grace. Far too late, though.

JonathanAnon

Skid wrote: »

He was there Jon.

Aha... that explains the rainclouds..

Lady Chatterton

squonk wrote: »

What car is he using? I'd heard he wasn't going to use the official Rolls-Royce but use instead Dev's Dodge from the museum in Ennis. Any one watching that can let me know?

squonk wrote: »

it's a shame! it'd have been nice to see at least one of the old cars . Maybe the weather put paid to the plan though?

There were never any plans to use De Valera’s Dodge today but the Major of Co. Clare has offered President Higgins use of the car on his first official visit to Co. Clare.

Dev’s Dodge awaits Michael D

Written by Dan Danaher

THE most famous car in Clare looks set to be used by the new President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins on his first official visit to the county where he was reared.

THE most famous car in Clare looks set to be used by the new President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins on his first official visit to the county where he was reared.
Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes is supporting calls for Eamon de Valera’s black Dodge to be made available to the former Labour deputy who was elected President on Saturday, when he returns to the Banner County.

If, as expected, the mayor’s plans come to fruition, Mr Higgins would become the third president to use the car, built by the Crysler Corporation Company in 1947, following in the footsteps of Sean T O’Ceallaigh and Eamonn de Valera.

Councillor Hayes predicts the use of the car by Mr Higgins, who is the third President with strong Clare links, would help efforts to dramatically increase the tourism potential of the car, which is currently in the foyer of the de Valera Library in Ennis.

“I am delighted another Clare man has been elected as President of Ireland and I look forward to seeing him enjoying the space and luxury provided in Eamon de Valera’s car. This would be a great marketing and public relations event for the county and would help to boost tourism in the future,” he said.

The skills of motor mechanic, Councillor PJ Ryan, ensured de Valera’s black Dodge is gleaming again following months of restoration work earlier this year.

Councillor Ryan, who has offered to drive the new President around Ennis, insists the Dodge is roadworthy and would be ready with a battery charge and a fill of petrol.
“Michael D is entitled to get a spin in de Valera’s car considering he is the third Clare man to become President. The car has all the symbols of the presidency, the Tricolour and a badge on its roof so it would be more than suitable to be used by the new President,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his acceptance speech, the new President pledged he would dedicate his abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland. He attacked the materialism displayed during the Celtic Tiger years and said he saw and felt the pain of the Irish people during almost 14 months of campaigning.

“I recognised the need for a reflection on those values and assumptions that had brought us to such a sorry pass in social and economic terms. I recognised the righteous anger but I also saw the need for healing and to move past recrimination.

“I love our shared Ireland for its core decencies, for its imagination and its celebration of the endless possibilities for our people that are there for the achieving as we leave behind a narrow individualism, that valued the person for what was assumed to be their accumulated wealth but neglected the connection between the person, the social, the community and the nation,” he said.

Clare Champion

http://www.clarechampion.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8075:devs-dodge-awaits-michael-d&catid=41:politics&Itemid=60

De Valera’s Dodge

This car is a 1947 Plymouth Dodge, registration number ZH 1333. Originally maroon in colour, the car was manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation in Detroit, U.S.A. It is 226 inches long, 75 inches wide and 66 inches high. Weighing approximately 2 tons, the car can seat 8 people plus the driver. It was purchased new for Sean T. Ó Ceallaigh during his term of office as President of Ireland. Sean T. Ó Ceallaigh personally drove the car for 12 years, until his presidential term ended in 1959.

In 1959 Eamon de Valera purchased the car for his own personal use, and had it painted black. Although he continued to use the official Rolls Royce on formal state occasions, President de Valera often drove the Dodge to political functions around the country and regularly drove the car around County Clare.

In 1988 the Dodge was presented to Clare County Council by Dr. Eamon de Valera and Ann de Valera on the wishes of their late sister, Margaret. The car which was donated by De Valera to the people of Clare is currently housed in the Clare County Museum.

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/people/e

1966

Satts wrote: »

We do this very well, makes me proud to be Irish. His office is off to a good start, gives hope that things will come good, and we need hope more than anything else at the moment.

Here's hoping !!

Plautus

I done wrote about de televisual spectacle for Vinny B's politico (I'll let everyone know if I ever get to read the papers or get access to the monogrammed coffee mugs)

http://www.politico.ie/irish-politics/fair-comment/8051-higgins-inauguration-circumstance-little-pomp.html

President de Valera often drove the Dodge to political functions around the country and regularly drove the car around County Clare.

That's terrifying, considering that he was functionally blind when he took up convalescence ... I mean office :P

Mr E

Locking this while I clean it up (to remove all the off topic crap).
There are lots of other forums where you can talk about recession, cuts and the budget (hint: not here)

Edit: OK, 19 posts deleted. You should all know better than that, folks...

I just want to see discussion about the TV coverage of the inauguration from now on.