Jennifer Horgan: The betrayal of Ireland’s elderly is happening in plain sight

Michael D Higgins’ poetry forces us to confront Ireland’s failures in caring for its elderly, both within families and at State level

 President Michael D Higgins with Sabina Higgins alongside the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland for ‘Against All Certainty: A Celebration of Michael D. Higgins’ at the National Concert Hall. Picture: Mark Stedman

Joni Mitchell had it right — you really don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone. Or in this case until it’s almost gone.

The loss of Michael D Higgins as our poet president of Ireland is a considerable one, as is the loss of his wife, Sabina — Ireland’s philosophical first lady.