President back on his feet after Christmas knees up in the Áras

Date Published: 28-Dec-2011

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Michael D Higgins is to return to full Presidential duties in a fortnight’s time, and is making a quick recovery from a knee operation before Christmas.

But the ninth President of Ireland has admitted he is finding it difficult to get used to his new life in Áras an Úachtaráin and misses Galway.

To help ease into his new life in the Phoenix Park, Mr Higgins and his wife brought their children Alice Mary, twins John and Michael and Daniel to the Áras to celebrate Christmas.

Meanwhile, Mr Higgins said his knee operation – carried out in Bon Secours Hospital in Renmore on December 13 – was a total success and he has since been “doing a lot of desk work”.

“I have found it a bit tougher to leave Galway. I left Galway quite suddenly because the election had been pushed out a week because of the referendums and that meant you had a shorter period between the result of the election and the inauguration than you’d normally have. So, I just really hadn’t a chance to pack very quickly.

“I do miss Galway, but I don’t intend to lose connection,” said the President.