Noel Gregory endorces Michael D Higgins for President

30 August 2011

by Cllr Joe Costello

Noel Gregory, brother of the late Tony Gregory TD, today endorsed Michael D Higgins in his campaign for President of Ireland.

"On behalf of myself and my late brother Tony Gregory I am delighted to support the campaign of Michael D Higgins for Uachtaráin na hÉireann. He is all that is best about Public Service. His leadership and outspokenness on unpopular issues is almost unparalleled. His experience, erudition and oratorical skills would be invaluable in Áras an Uachtaráin.

"He has distinguished himself as politician, public servant, polemicist, poet, philosopher, public intellectual, promoter of social justice and human rights. He shares the same core values as the late Tony Gregory TD of social justice and community empowerment, inclusivity and human rights.

"Tony often said that it would be wonderful to have a disciple of James Connolly in Áras an Uachtaráin for the centenaries of the 1913 Lock out, the founding of the Citizen Army, the 1916 Rebellion and James Connolly's execution.

"Tony always tried to promote a "Liaison of the Left" and always maintained that an alliance of the left would be useless without the participation of the Labour Party. Michael D represents the values of old Labour. Michael D Higgins would be a people's president.

"He would be well placed to promote trade between South America and Ireland, a huge untapped marketplace for Ireland. South America would resonate to a President Higgins - a continent that still reveres Bernardo O'Higgins.

"Michael D is enough of a maverick to justify my endorsement of him on Tony Gregory's behalf! It is not an endorsement of coalition Labour and its current policies.

"Michael D's vision is that of an unselfish radical society promoting social inclusion in education, housing and health. He endeavours to value every citizen in their fundamental dignity and to replace speculative individualism with inclusion.

"His advocacy of social causes is only matched by his promotion of arts and culture. He is sound on foreign policy and not afraid to stand up to and criticise American imperialism, materialism and consumerism.
"Mine is not an eleventh hour conversation I eagerly awaited the nomination of Michael D. by the Labour Party. Neither was I canvassed by the Labour Party to support Michael D."

Michael D Higgins welcomed the generous endorsement by Noel Gregory, and was pleased to spend this afternoon with him visiting Moore Street and other parts of the Dublin Central Constituency.

"I have always had the highest respect for the late Tony Gregory and the great work he did for the underprivileged in the Inner City. I was delighted therefore to meet Noel and to receive his endorsement for my campaign. I was particularly pleased that Noel extended the endorsement to include his late brother Tony".