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PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins has said that a stroke he experienced earlier this year continues to affect him physically, but that he is still cognitively sharp.
Asked about his health in a doorstep interview at the National Ploughing Championships today, President Higgins said: “It’s very straightforward. On 29 February, I had a mild stroke in my office. It affected my left side. It had no effect on me cognitively.”
He said he is receiving physiotherapy to help with his balance, which was impacted, and now uses two sticks when walking.
He added: “I have, from previous times, very heavy arthritis, so the combination of all these occasionally means that I can’t run quite like I did.”
The President also thanked everyone for their concern.
“The people of Ireland have been wonderful, kind, considerate and appreciative of the fact that I need, in fact, to go to a seat in a different stadium a bit slower.
“But their enthusiasm and mind for sport remains the same.”
During a speech at the Ploughing Championships today, President Higgins said it was wonderful to see so many young people in attendance.
“It is they who will make the changes we need. Their presence here is a testament to the enduring importance of farming and rural life in Ireland, but is also a reminder that our shared future depends on them.
We must ensure that we leave them a world that is sustainable, prosperous, and at peace.
In a message for the people of Laois today, the President said: ”Appreciate the sun. Be kind to each other. And may your kindness exceed the suns beyond today.”
Later this week, he will travel to New York to address the Summit of the Future, where he will “concentrate especially on what shape a United Nations needs to have to be genuinely representative of the peoples of the world in all their diversity”.
He said there he will emphasise the role of food producers in creating a sustainable and peaceful world.
“According to the latest Global Report on Food Crises, dangerous levels of acute hunger affected a staggering 281.6 million people last year – the fifth year in a row that food insecurity has worsened. In Sudan alone, half of the country’s population of 50 million are now facing food insecurity and famine,” said President Higgins.
“UNICEF has told us the recent severe drought that has impacted large swathes of Southern Africa has resulted in almost 300,000 children being threatened by severe acute malnutrition in the six drought-affected countries.”
These challenges, he says, are exacerbated by the debt many countries harbour and lack of spending on necessities.
“How shameful it is that this is taking place in a world where military expenditure has soared to unprecedented levels, reaching $2.44 trillion in 2023—the highest ever recorded,” he said.
“When one thinks of what could be achieved if such sums were not deferred to preparations for war.”
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Lucky you
My mother has medical card still awaits her oncology counsultant, her GP refer her last year on March 23 got appointment on mater private 12 Dec. Didn’t attend.
It was too late, metastatic stage ,radiation and thyroidectomy at dutch National Cancer Institute Oct 23.
cuz her GP told us save time( 3-9 months oncology waiting list)go privately abroad, spend her all saving from her pension 39 k,
radiotherapy Jan.24
Died on 7th April 24
Wish you speedy recovery !
@sakk sa: Can you afford €100 per month to buy your mother private health insurance?
@Robert Halvey: Dev was never the editor of the Irish press. Seriously, you need to read some books, your grasp of history is pretty tenuous. Yes he founded it under dubious circumstances and remained owner, but editor, no. You also don’t seem to realise that Dev was elected president, he wasn’t appointed, FG and Labour ran candidates against him.
Mad. Comments critical of Higgins deleted. Another lad making up his own facts has his lies untouched.
@honey badger: he’s an embarrassment with his never-ending support for tyrants and terrorists.
@Robert Halvey: The president was chosen by the electorate. You shouldn’t repeat something (‘hiding a murderer’) after it has been pointed out that is false. And McArthur murdered a man and a woman (not two women).
@Brendan O’Brien: been a minute lad who was who’s father in law and why did the president have to resign
@Robert Halvey: jeez you are a fruitcake.
@Robert Halvey: the only president to resign was Cearbhul O Dalaigh in 1976. The attorney General incident with Mc Arthur was 1982. That AG was never a candidate, let alone president. Dev was never editor of the Irish press. Every presidential election Dev won, he was elected by the people. I have no idea what you’re on about, but nothing you have said is factual.
He did us proud and held the post in a very engaging and respectful manner – however , when elected on the first term he stated it was for one term only – he then ran again despite his age – this was a mistake – age is terrible , brutal and uncaring . One must learn to just let go and retire .
Well done in the job and good health in your remaining years !!
@Mike Ryan: He has not done us proud. His dalliance with left wing dictators in South America leaves a lot to be desired. He is supposed to be apolitical. He was not. If he wished to dabble in politics he should not have run for the post of president and stayed in the political arena.
He has been semi retired for the last 18 months.. He and the wife will get a big shock next year when he will have to spend his own money. Ridicolous that our president is on more money than our taoiseach.Mickey d is a champagne socialist.
@rory Mcgovern: Michael D has been taking this country for a ride for the whole of his life!
I wish Michael all the best.
I wonder why it is that when well known persons have a medical event it is always spun as “mild” or “minor”.
Refer Michael D, Charles (England) Joe Biden etc.
Looks like your dreams of playing for Man Utd are over……#ICouldHaveBeenAContender
@Cathal o’sullivan: he could bankroll Galway utd
The ffg logic it wasn’t me ,so Rupert murdock is not responsible for tapping people’s phones , the universe just gave him a headline that would sell newspaper and give him money, ffg you have always been small minded selling all our assets to anyone to avoid responsibility
@Robert Halvey: Quit while you’re behind Robert.
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