President Higgins Praises Irish-American Positivity

Ireland's new president Michael D Higgins has praised the positivity shown by Irish-America towards home, during a successful six day visit to the United States, his first since November's election.

"As we work together to overcome our challenges at home, this great reservoir of goodwill that we enjoy in the United States remains for us both a source of inspiration and of practical support, and we cherish this support and these connections," he told audiences at the Ireland Fund dinner.

The president's schedule was a hectic one - visiting senior political figures, the arts community and Irish American leaders.

He spoke to Wall Street executives of Irish descent, visited Irish emigration centers and met with construction workers from Kerry and Leitrim at the World Trade Centre site in Lower Manhattan

President Higgins spoke at a Press Freedom event at the United Nations last Thursday. He attended lunches organized by the IDA, Innovation Ireland and Bord Bia

One of the highlights of his visit was the first speech which he delivered during a reception at Ireland House on Park Avenue.

He spoke about the anger felt in Ireland about the betrayal of trust by individuals and institutions during the Celtic Tiger economy.

"But far from being defeated by circumstances, the Irish people are, for the most part, moving on and not allowing themselves to sink into any disabling cynicism or fatalism," he said.

President Higgins and his wife Sabine also went to Boston - dubbing it "America's most Irish city" - for the Famine Commemoration, and said global hunger was one of the great challenges of our age.

"To international relations, governments, and the institutions which generations place their trust [in], it remains one of the great unresolved ethical challenges of our time - the daily needless loss of life to hunger and preventable diseases," Higgins said.

While the Irish presidency is a head-of-state position that prevents involvement in day to day politics, President Higgins did signal his support for an E3 visa program proposed by Senator Scott Brown.

"I don't get involved in the day-to-day legislation, but obviously I am interested and concerned for all Irish," Higgins said. "I see myself as a president for all of the Irish at home and abroad, so, yes, of course, I am supportive of anything that helps their situation."

"They have Skype now, so the break with home isn't as severe as it was," he said. "But if somebody dies at home, or there's a wedding, they have real difficulties both exiting and reentering."