“The Year of Covid”

In April 2020, President Higgins and Sabina led the ‘Shine A Light’ initiative, in tribute to the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic

On New Year’s Eve 2020, President Higgins said to the people of Ireland:

“Agus muid ag fágáil slán le blain an Covid-19 is cóir dúinn smaoineamh ar íad atá imithe úainn agus íad atá fágtha ina ndiaidh.

As we emerge from the year of Covid-19 it is appropriate that we remember all those who have departed from us during the year, and those they have left behind and who did not have the opportunity of grieving for them in the way that is so traditional, and so central to Irish life.”

During “the year of Covid”, lives were lost and communities were profoundly impacted by the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). From the moment in February that the first cases of the virus were reported in Ireland, President Higgins highlighted the importance of abiding by the public health recommendations, to ensure an effective response to the spread of the virus. Throughout the pandemic, the President spoke of the need to base our collective response to the pandemic on the principles of compassion, care, solidarity and kindness - locally, nationally and internationally.

Not long after the government announced a first lockdown in March, President Higgins spoke about the coronavirus in his St. Patrick’s Day statement, asking citizens to look out for each other and in particular for those in the most vulnerable categories who may need assistance and care.

“Today, as the world faces the global spread of the coronavirus we are called more than ever to follow the values embodied in the story of St. Patrick. Those values of solidarity and concern for the well-being of our fellow citizens will play a fundamental role in our effective confronting of the challenge with which we are now presented.