PRESIDENT URGES YOUNG GALWAY PEOPLE TO CHANGE

Date Published: 29-Sep-2012

SPEAKING at the seminar, "Being Young and Irish" at NUIG today, President Michael D Higgins urged young people to take charge of change.

In his speech President Higgins said that by doing so they can be the cornerstone and foundation for a new kind of ethical, value-based ‘Irishness’.

The seminar, which is the final one of four at regional venues is one part of his Presidency’s contribution towards a tranformed Ireland and what he says will be a more inclusive ‘real republic’.

In his speech President Higgins also urged the young people to be ‘visionary’ and he added that he is impressed with some very practical proposals that have come from the younger generation for ‘renewing’ and ‘revising’ the Ireland of today.

He said the findings of all four regional seminars will be presented at an event in Aras an Uachtarain later this year at which members of the Government will also be present.

They will hear an evaluation of the findings of the four seminars and the views of representatives of the regional groups of young people, such as the one in Galway.

Back in his ‘Alma Mater’ today he remarked that the young people’s regional seminar at NUIG was an important one.

After speaking at the seminar, President Michael D Higgins also paid tribute to veteran Irish singing star Larry Cunningham who passed away last night at the age of 74.

President Higgins said he has fond memories of Larry Cunningham entertaining the Irish emigrants abroad when he worked as a student in London during summer holidays in his college days.