President praises Cork’s cultural spirit

THE President met homeless men at a shelter in Cork to demonstrate his commitment to foster inclusion and active citizenship.

Those suffering and those with special needs should always be close to the thoughts of those in positions of power and influence, Michael D Higgins said during his first official visit to the city as President.

“Your citizenship has to be complete and full. Nobody should be on the edge or periphery,” he said before meeting clients and staff at the St Vincent de Paul hostel in Deerpark.

Earlier, Mr Higgins was formally welcomed to Cork at City Hall by Lord Mayor Terry Shannon, where an audience from the city’s civic, religious, cultural, artistic and political circles gathered.

The President’s friend, poet Tom McCarthy, urged him to write a new collection of poetry over his seven-year term.

“In the evenings, I imagine you walk the corridors of Áras an Uachtaráin, and behind you is the ghost of that other great poet of the west who was president of Ireland, Dubhghlas de hÍde, and I feel that when you sit to write your poems, those great new arrows of poetry you will write as President, it is Dubhghlas de hÍde’s hand that will be on your shoulder.

“But unlike Dubhghlas de hÍde you will speak with more authority for the arrows of poetry you will write will spring from an immense forest of one million votes. How extraordinary for a poet.”

Mr Higgins described Cork city as a “cultural kaleidoscope”, and praised its innovative and vibrant cultural spirit before stressing the importance of encouraging creativity in communities as a seedbed of creativity for the cultural industries.

“This is a colourful, vibrant and edgy metropolis, a place that never stands still as it imaginatively renews its distinct cultural heritage with new and exciting contemporary endeavours,” he said.

“The challenge now is to use that energy collectively, co-operatively, for the benefit of all with a clear transparency on how our actions are inclusive, helping participation, radical in the citizenship we seek, and never patronising.”

He mentioned Cork Opera House, the Glucksman Gallery, and the CIT Cork School of Music, the city’s choral, jazz and film festivals, and the international Frank O’Connor international short story award as shining examples of the city’s thriving arts scene.

Later, he visited the Mayfield Arts Newbury House project where, with the help of Tasha McCarthy, 17, he unveiled 10 large outdoor murals created by 100 teenagers and young adults.

Each 8ft by 12ft mural, which celebrate the local community, will be dotted around Mayfield.

The centre’s youth co-ordinator, Nora Furlong, said they were delighted with the presidential visit.

“It is fantastic and great recognition for the young people here. Mayfield gets a lot of bad press and we want to promote the good work here.”

Mr Higgins visited the centre during his campaign and discovered it has links through its global education project with groups in Colombia, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

lSee the Mayfield mural map at irishexaminer.com