President Michael D Higgins has used his St Patrick’s Day message to praise the “spirit of friendship and generosity” displayed by Irish citizens during recent severe weather conditions.
Mr Higgins said the advent of spring is “keenly welcomed” after the storms of December and January that caused tens of millions of euro worth of damage to the State’s infrastructure as well as the homes of thousands of people.
“Patrick’s values of pastoral concern and human solidarity were much in evidence as members of the emergency services, local authority workers and good neighbours reached out to assist those who were afflicted by the storms and the flooding,” he said.
"It was an uplifting example of that spirit of friendship and generosity embodied by Patrick in his own lifetime and which continues to define our sense of community today."
Irish emigrants
Mr Higgins also used his message to address the matter of Irish emigrants abroad and foreign migrants who have settled in Ireland. "We are also conscious of how the theme of migration has remained an important part of our national narrative," he said.
“It continues to play a significant role in defining us as a society and as a people. Today we celebrate our wider and diverse Irish family, to whom we remain connected by a strong cultural heritage and history.
“We are grateful for all they do to keep that heritage alive in their adopted homelands across the globe, as well as for their interest in, and tangible support for, Ireland’s welfare and development.
“Today is a special day for all those Irish communities great and small across the world that come together in a spirit of pride and joy to celebrate their identity and their links of affinity and affection with their homeland of origin.
“On St Patrick’s Day, our recent emigrants from Ireland will, in particular, be foremost in our thoughts.
“Where ever they may be, we hope our sons and daughters are happy and prospering in their adopted communities and that they will have some opportunity, with friends and neighbours, to share the joyous celebration of our patron saint,” he said.
