Michael D Higgins - The Irish diaspora and 1916
One of the initiatives suggested in the ‘Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy’ was the holding of a Global Irish Civic Forum. The Irish President gave a speech to the Global Irish Civic Forum, June 3 2015:
“As we begin our preparations for the commemoration of 1916 next year it is important to recall the central importance of the Irish overseas in the State’s first steps to independence, with many playing a central role in the planning, execution and aftermath of the Rising. At many points in Irish history, it was our diaspora that sustained the independence movement, they offered shelter to its leaders and they ensured that the Irish nation became recognised and acknowledged at the international level. Just as it was also American scholars and institutions of learning that collated and maintained many essential archives of our language and culture during the most difficult periods of the 19th century. For example, next week I will be in Skibbereen to mark the centenary of the death of O’Donovan Rossa, who died in the US and at whose funeral Pádraig Pearse made clear his revolutionary intent.”
“The global Irish family is a unique and extraordinary body of people which I deeply value.”
Speech in full here: http://www.president.ie/en/media-library/speeches/speech-on-the-occasion-of-the-global-irish-civic-forum
More on Ireland’s diaspora policy here, ‘Global Irish’: http://brianjohnspencer.tumblr.com/post/121032288683/global-irish-irelands-diaspora-policy
