Christy Moore releases spoken word tribute to President Michael D Higgins
The folk singer has recorded Music to Our Ears, a poem written by written by Johnny Broderick and produced by Gavin Murphy, which celebrates Mr Higgins presidency and his impact on the people of Ireland.
First elected to the role in 2011, President Higgins will complete his second and final term this November. The video features footage of street artist ACHES creating an image of President Michael D Higgins
The emotive poem describes him as 'the lyric of the verse, the melody of the song, the north star of the night sky when our compass is pointing wrong'. ACHES creates a 10-foot painting of the President in the footage
It also praises him for his 'core values' of 'truth, honesty and decorum'.
The final lines state: 'Statesmanlike and diplomatic, charismatic without fears.
'You are a national treasure treasured, you have been music to our ears."
A music video released this week, which shares Moore's recording, is set against footage capuring the painting of a 10-foot-tall portrait of Mr Higgins by the Dublin street artist ACHES. Watch the video here...
See More: Aches, Christy Moore, Michael D Higgins, Tribute
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Post
2 hours ago
- Irish Post
Irish government reveals date new state-of-the-art data centre set to open
A NEW state-of-the-art government data centre is set to be completed by the end of this year, Ireland's Digitalisation Minister Emer Higgins has confirmed. Work began on the site, in Backweston, Co. Kildare, in 2023 and the construction project was completed in July of this year. The internal fit-out is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with services migrating to the new tech centre in early 2026. Ireland's Digitilisation Minister Emer Higgins has provided an update on the new data centre Developed as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), under the European Union's recovery plan, NextGenerationEU, the data centre is set to future proof the delivery of essential digital services in Ireland. 'The Backweston shared Government Data Centre is a fantastic example of how NextGenerationEU funding is delivering real, tangible results,' Minister Higgins said after visting the site this week. 'This complex build was completed on time and on budget, which is a testament to the skill and dedication of everyone involved,' she added. 'It will harness the latest and most efficient technologies to ensure that vital Government data is stored in a secure and energy-efficient way, meeting the Government's technology and energy-saving requirements both now and into the future. 'This state-of-the-art facility will give State bodies the ICT infrastructure they need to work more efficiently, streamline processes, reduce duplication and bring greater consistency to how public services are delivered,' the minister explained. 'It will be operational from 2026 onwards, marking a significant step forward in our digital transformation journey, delivering on commitments in the Programme for Government and ultimately helping us to provide better public services to the people of Ireland. I welcome this important progress.' See More: Data Centre, Emer Higgins, Ireland, Kildare
The Journal
14 hours ago
- The Journal
Where is the government storing all its ‘vital data'? In a centre in Co Kildare, of course
THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW data centre has been delivered on time and on budget. This afternoon, Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment Emer Higgins, paid a visit to the new Government Data Centre at Backweston in Co Kildare. Construction on the data centre began in 2023 and was completed last month. However, work is still underway on the internal fit-out, which is due to be completed by the end of the year. This state-of-the-art building was developed under the European Union's recovery plan, NextGenerationEU. This recovery plan provides financial aid to EU States to combat the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and make the European economy 'more resistant to future shocks'. Advertisement Ireland's allocation is €1.15 billion, and the government submitted its third payment request, with a value of €240 million, earlier this week. Ireland has already received its first and second payments of €324 million and €115 million respectively. The third payment request includes the expansion of the rehabilitation of peatlands, as well as further works on electrification of the transport networks in Cork and Drogheda. Meanwhile, a government spokesperson said that the new data centre will 'provide secure operations that will future proof the reliable delivery of essential digital services to the public'. Once the fit-out of the building is complete, the migration of services to the new facility is scheduled to begin early next year. Higgins said Backweston Data Centre is a 'fantastic example of how the NextGenerationEU funding is delivering real, tangible results'. She said the fact that the 'complex' build was completed on time and on budget is a 'testament to the skill and dedication of everyone involved'. She said the new data centre will use the 'latest and most efficient technologies to ensure that vital Government data is stored in a secure and energy-efficient way'. Related Reads British government asks people to delete old emails to reduce data centres' water use Does Ireland need more data centres in the near future? Yes, says Taoiseach Build it and they will hum: What next for Ireland and data centres? Higgins said this will help the State in meeting its technology and energy-saving requirements 'both now and into the future'. 'This state-of-the-art facility will give State bodies the ICT infrastructure they need to work more efficiently, streamline processes, reduce duplication and bring greater consistency to how public services are delivered,' said Higgins. She also described it as a 'significant step forward in our digital transformation journey' and that it will 'ultimately help us to provide better public services'. In England, people have been urged to delete old photos and emails to reduce demands on data centres, which require large amounts of water. Dr Venkatesh Uddameri, a Texas-based expert in water resources management, recently told the BBC that a typical data centre can use between 11 million and 19 million litres of water per day, roughly the same as a town of 30,000 to 50,000 people. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
15 hours ago
- The Journal
President Higgins backs Mary Robinson's comments warning governments of ‘complicity' in genocide
PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins has backed comments by former president Mary Robinson about governments being 'increasingly complicit' in the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. Robinson, along with other members of The Elders, visited the Rafah border crossing in Egypt this week, where she said they witnessed firsthand the devastating conditions in Gaza. The Elders is an independent group of global leaders and advocates, founded by Nelson Mandela. It has called for immediate ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, with the release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners held arbitrarily by Israel. 'Governments that are not using all the tools at their disposal to halt the unfolding genocide in Gaza are increasingly complicit,' Robinson said. Advertisement She added: 'Political leaders have the power and the legal obligation to apply measures to pressure this Israeli government to end its atrocity crimes.' During the visit to the Rafah crossing with Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Robinson said they witnessed aid supplies being blocked from entering Gaza. 'A significant proportion of manifested trucks are turned away with vital supplies. The world needs to know... This has to stop.' Mary Robinson and @HelenClarkNZ witness the devastating reality at the closed Rafah border with Gaza. — The Elders (@TheElders) August 12, 2025 She also recalled accounts of Palestinian civilians, including children, being killed while trying to access desperately needed food and medical help. She stressed the urgent need for all border crossings — including the critical Rafah crossing — to be opened immediately to allow aid to reach those trapped inside Gaza. In a statement this evening, President Higgins remarked that the 'world will thank the Elders for the valuable comments they have made following a visit to the Rafah border crossing'. President Higgins added that Robinson and Clark are 'authoritative figures on famine, hunger and the role of the United Nations'. Related Reads An Gorta Mór: How the horror of forced starvation in Gaza echoes our own cruel past World watches in horror and the IDF is sceptical, so will Netanyahu order full occupation? Gaza famine 'reminiscent of Ethiopia' and 'unlike anything seen this century', says UN's WFP 'Their statements draw attention to the 325,000 children malnourished in Gaza and at risk of death before the end of September,' said President Higgins. Mary Robinson during her visit to the Rafah crossing on Monday. Alamy Alamy 'President Robinson is also right to draw attention to the special treatment needed for malnutrition, drawing on her experience in Somalia in 1992.' In 1992, Robinson visited Somalia as president to raise awareness of the famine in the country. President Higgins added that the statements made by Robinson during her visit to Rafah 'deserve the widest possible circulation'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
