“I will use every breath in my body to be as inspirational as I can be . . .” Such was the promise made by President-elect Michael D Higgins in Galway yesterday evening, as he bid hail and farewell to a 40-year political career in his home city.
An estimated 5,000 people had gathered for the final "fáilte" in Eyre Square – or Kennedy park, as those who still remember US president JFK's visit there, like to call it. "This is Galway's Obama moment," a crowd-member said, while members of the Occupy Galway camp held up a placard invitation – "Will you come up for a cup of tea, Michael D?"
Several years before the JFK moment, back in 1961, the young Limerick man had thumbed to Galway to take up staff post number 26373 in the ESB. Some 50 years and a bit later, he arrived under escort, with his wife Sabina and family, where he was joined on the podium by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore, Mayor of Galway Hildegarde Naughton (FG) and his poll-topping successor in the Dáil, Labour TD Derek Nolan.
Speaking of the city he loved, Mr Higgins said it was "the place to where I return, and where I will always return, because it is of Galway that I am".
Paying tribute in particular to his Galway campaign team and to his daughter Alice Mary who had "worked night and day", Mr Higgins also saluted "all of the people who have worked with me and all those who have stood for unpopular causes".
"It is my intention to turn language into reality," he said. "There is a wonderful future for all of us in this country – remember you must be a president for people of every age, for the generation yet to come."
"I love Ireland and I love its people and I pay tribute to the work of change and transformation that has already been done . . . there is no limit to the possibilities," he said.
Despite the rain, the President-elect insisted on walking back through the crowds, where many hands reached out to touch a little part of him – just as he had reached out to those on the margins and in between..
