Latest news with #MichaelD.Higgins
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
President Michael D. Higgins to release spoken word album
PRESIDENT Michael D. Higgins is to release a spoken word album featuring his poetry set to music by Myles O'Reilly. The 10-track album is due be released on September 5, not long before the end of Higgins' second term as president in November. The title track, Against All Certainty, has already been released and is available now via streaming platforms. 'Incredibly interesting life' Higgins, 84, began his political career in 1973 when he was appointed to the Seanad by Taoiseach Liam Cosgrove. He later served two terms as TD for Galway West and for several years was Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. However, throughout his political career, he also worked as a writer, broadcaster and poet. He had a regular column for the music magazine Hot Press and has had four poetry collections published, as well as a number of non-fiction books. Against All Certainty is the president's debut spoken word album and will feature 10 of his most well-known works. "Listeners can expect to find themselves fully transposed into the incredibly interesting life and times of the poet before he became Ireland's President, from childhood to adulthood," press for the album states. The album was recorded in Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence and office of the President of Ireland. The tracks will be set to musical compositions by O'Reilly, a member of the band Juno Falls, who has also directed a number of music videos and documentaries. 'Prodigious poems' Against All Certainty will be released on CD, hardback CD book and vinyl formats by Claddagh Records. Irish novelist, playwright and poet Sebastian Barry, who was Laureate for Irish Fiction from 2018 until 2021, hailed the president's work. "These are truly prodigious poems by Michael D. Higgins — not just a milestone in his own work but in Irish poetry," he said. President Higgins will step down from his role later this year, having served the maximum two terms. The album is available to pre-order from Claddagh Records by clicking here. See More: Claddagh Records, Michael D Higgins, Poetry
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
President Michael D. Higgins to release debut album
President Michael D. Higgins is set to release his debut spoken-word album Against All Certainty, set for release on September 5 via Claddagh Records. The record features ten original poems penned by the President, and is underscored by a musical composition from celebrated musician Myles O'Reilly. O'Reilly is best known for releasing several ambient albums and collaborating with many renowned artists on the Irish music scene, most notably Ronan O'Snodaigh (of Kila). The album announcement is accompanied by the release of the lead single and title track 'Against All Certainty', which you can check out below: To date, Michael D. Higgins has published four collections of poetry — The Betrayal; The Season of Fire; An Arid Season; and New and Selected Poems. Against All Certainty is the first-ever collection of vocal recordings of his works. The album was recorded in Áras an Uachtaráin, offering an insight into the life and times of the poet, from childhood to adulthood, before he became Ireland's ninth President. Sebastian Barry, novelist and Laureate for Irish Fiction, describes this incredibly immersive album: 'These are truly prodigious poems by Michael D Higgins — not just a milestone in his own work but in Irish poetry. Readers and listeners will be astonished by their inspired truthfulness and their lovely adroitness of line. 'Because the poet happens to be President of Ireland should not distract from the fact that these poems are written with all the precision and fervour of a free soul, and one that has made no bargain with rectitude or even the meaner sorts of discretion.' You can pre-order Against All Certainty here. 1. 'The Truth of Poetry' 2. 'Brothers' 3. 'Katie's Song' 4. 'Dark Memories' 5. 'My Mother Married my Father in Mount Melleray in 1937' 6. 'The Death of The Red Cow' 7. 'Against All Certainty' 8. 'The Betrayal' 9. 'The Death of Mary Doyle' 10. 'Stargazer'
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
President Michael D Higgins to release spoken word album
President Michael D. Higgins is set to release Against All Certainty, a new spoken word album of his poems set to music and recorded in Áras an Uachtaráin. Released on folk and trad label Claddagh Records 5 September, the 10-track album will feature music by Irish musician and filmmaker Myles O'Reilly, with the title track available to stream now. The new record is the debut spoken-word collection by the President, who leaves office after serving two terms as President of Ireland this November. Born in 1941 in Limerick City and raised in County Clare, President Higgins has published four collections of poetry - The Betrayal; The Season of Fire; An Arid Season; and New and Selected Poems. On 11 November 2011, Mr Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland. On 11 November 2018, he was inaugurated for a second term. O'Reilly has previously released ambient albums and has collaborated with Irish artists including Rónán Ó Snodaigh Ronan of Kila. His film work often explores themes of nature, spirituality and human connection through music. Speaking about Against All Certainty, Sebastian Barry, novelist and Laureate for Irish Fiction, said, "These are truly prodigious poems by Michael D Higgins - not just a milestone in his own work but in Irish poetry. "Readers and listeners will be astonished by their inspired truthfulness and their lovely adroitness of line. `…a new fire And a new day.' Because the poet happens to be President of Ireland should not distract from the fact that these poems are written with all the precision and fervour of a free soul, and one that has made no bargain with rectitude or even the meaner sorts of discretion. "They are not rawly truthful poems, but cooly so, and sometimes properly disquieting. There is something of the rejection of evasion in, say, the work of Paul Celan here, and what Matthew Arnold might have termed the 'dreadful authority' of remembrance without window-dressing. "Just the bare window both to look out of and look into. It feels like a signal achievement, and despite the mere chronology of the poet's life, not at all in the nature of a swansong - in fact, the poems have the unquantifiable strength of youth. "Like all tremendous poems they are being said for the first and the last time. They have appeared out of that 'nowhere,' that elusive 'thin air,' that all poets long to connect to. What a miracle." The tracklist for Against All Certainty is: The Truth of Poetry Brothers Katie's Song Dark Memories My Mother Married my Father in Mount Melleray in 1937 The Death of The Red Cow Against All Certainty The Betrayal The Death of Mary Doyle Stargazer
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Race for the Aras – who are the candidates vying to replace Michael D Higgins as the next President of Ireland
THE COUNTRY is set to head to the polls later this year to vote in the next President of Ireland. It comes as Advertisement 2 Michael D. Higgins was first elected President in 2011 Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription The beloved figure was originally inaugurated as president in 2011, and then re-elected in 2018. And as the country gets ready to bid President Higgins a fond farewell, all sights have turned to who will take his place. A While there is a country-wide vote, there are certain criteria a candidate has to meet before making the ballot. Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS They must be an Irish citizen and 35 years of age or older. You must be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas, or at least four local authorities. However, former or retiring presidents can nominate themselves. If there is just one candidate nominated they will be elected without a vote, however, that is unlikely to happen this time around. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Exclusive Exclusive INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE Independent TD Catherine Connolly has confirmed she will put herself forward for the presidency. And it is believed she will easily surpass the nomination criteria, meaning we are almost guaranteed to see her name on the ballot this year. Ireland fans blown away by Fiji's 'class gesture' to President Michael D. Higgins moments before rugby clash Brian Stanley, Charles Ward, and Seamus Healy, also independent TDs, have confirmed they will back Catherine's bid. LEFT LEANING CANDIDATE Left-leaning parties could row in behind Deputy Connolly as a combined left-wing contender. Advertisement Labour, who Connolly resigned from in 2007, has explored the prospect of running its own candidate and has opened a two-week consultation period. The Green Party said no decision has been made yet on who could be backed by the party in the election. However, party leader The Galway native has already got the support of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and several independents. Advertisement SINN FEIN Sinn Fein's But sources told The Irish Sun they do not believe that Mary Lou is seriously being considered for the party's nomination for the presidency as she still holds the desire to become Ireland's first female Taoiseach. However, deputy leader Pearse Doherty last week denied that floating her as a contender for the presidency was a media game to try to generate headlines. FIANNA FAIL Ex-Minister Mary Hanafin wants to become President of Ireland and last month threw her hat in the ring to become Fianna Fail's candidate. Advertisement She told However, the She could face competition from former And former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern openly flirted with the idea of running as president by not ruling out the prospect during several media interviews. Advertisement FINE GAEL Former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness will be in the Aras race. She has been nominated to contest the 2025 Presidential Election this year for In a letter sent to Fine Gael members this week, McGuinness said she expects the election campaign to be "full on." Tanaiste and Fine Gael leader Advertisement 2 Michael D Higgins will say goodbye to Aras an Uachtarain on November 11, 2025 Credit: Alamy
Irish Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sinn Féin 'concerned' at removal of President Higgins portrait in Belfast
The DUP has yet to reveal the whereabouts of a portrait of President Michael D. Higgins that was removed from a wall in the Belfast Lord Mayor's City Hall offices. Sinn Féin now say they are 'concerned' at the removal of the portrait, which hung on a wall beside a portrait of King Charles in a room on the first floor of City Hall used for meetings and receptions. The location of the artwork is yet to be revealed, Belfast Live reports. The party has now asked the new Belfast Lord Mayor, DUP Councillor Tracy Kelly where the portrait is, as well as 'what message' was being sent by removing it. Back in 2011, Sinn Féin stirred controversy after removing pictures of the Queen and Prince Charles during their tenure as mayor, erecting a portrait of the United Irishmen and an image of the 1916 Easter Rising Proclamation of the Irish Republic instead. Former mayor and Sinn Féin Councillor Ryan Murphy, spoke at the meeting, held on Tuesday night, of the full Belfast Council. After congratulating the Lord Mayor on the birth of his child, Councillor Murphy said: 'I want to commend you on the first weeks in office, I think we have seen you hit the ground running. 'You have been out in all four corners of the city of Belfast, even representing the city at an international level in the New York New Belfast events. The role of the mayor really is an important one for the city - it is able to highlight worthy causes. 'But it is a role that is held in very high esteem and high regard from the citizens of Belfast. That is felt no more so than in our ethnic communities, and I want to commend you on the events you took part in Refugee Week, when you went to the Big Picnic. 'To see that taking place, especially in the aftermath of the attacks, where a lot of ethnic minorities across Belfast were targeted, that has been welcomed.' He added: 'But at the same time, the role of Lord Mayor is one that the Belfast people take ownership of. It's a position where all the people feel you are the person that represents them. 'That is done in your deeds, when you are out in the city, but also when you are in the offices. And the Mayor's offices, for me it was about opening them up to the city of Belfast, and letting the people know it was theirs, that it was somewhere where they belonged, that they could also feel part of. 'That was even done through the stuff that was on the walls. When our representatives have been in the position of Mayor, there were certain things we never took off the walls. There were certain things we felt were off-limits. 'And so when we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles, we accepted it, and we put it up alongside the Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael and we marked it with a small event at the Mayor's office. For us it is concerning that in recent weeks we have seen that portrait is no longer there. 'And we would ask, where is that portrait? And what kind of message does it send out to people in this city who hold the President of Ireland in high regard?' 'That has been noted, thanks Ryan,' the Lord Mayor then replied. A DUP spokesperson later said: "Decoration of the lord mayor's parlour is not yet complete. There will be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks."
