With President Michael D. Higgins
We were honoured to visit Áras an Uachtaráin in the lead up to the Winter Solstice ~ Grianstad an Gheimhridh ~ to meet with our President of Ireland, Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D. Higgins.
In the Irish tradition, Grianstad an Gheimhridh signals the darkest hours before the return of the light. As we witness the collective trauma unfolding on our watch and on our planet, we realise that this is a crucible moment for all of us.
We find ourselves wondering how we might navigate this collective dark night of the soul and nudge humanity forward?
We feel that today, on the first day of 2025, that this poem ‘Exiles’ offered generously by President Higgins offers some wisdom for these times.
We look forward to sharing more of our time with President Higgins with you in the near year.
Thank you to Foras na Gaeilge for supporting this project.
“We must make our own answer
Our liberation from the nightmare will come
Our exile will end
Not from the making of miracles
But from the strength of will and heart combines
Affirming
That we make our own history
With heart and head
We make our common fate
Together
We move on and affirm
An old promise,
Not rejected
Unfulfilled.”
