As President Michael D Higgins concludes his historic 14-year term and returns home to Galway, a moving poetic tribute delivered earlier this year is being shared once again – a piece that captures the spirit, conviction, and compassion that defined his presidency.
The poem “Lighthouses” was written and performed by acclaimed Galway poet Sarah Clancy at the recent Global Voice for Humanity Award ceremony in Dublin, where President Higgins was honoured by the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA ) for his lifelong commitment to justice, equality, peace, and education.
Introducing her poem, written especially for the occasion, to an audience of nearly 200 educators and activists, Clancy spoke of her deep admiration for Higgins – a leader who, she said, inspired her generation to believe in a politics rooted in empathy and imagination.
“Myself and Ruairí McKiernan shared a memory of the first time Michael D Higgins ran for President,” she recalled. “There was a youth debate we helped organise, and we just remembered this extraordinary energy. Young people are the hardest to impress, and when Michael D finished speaking, they were stamping their feet and cheering — that’s not a joke.”
“I think Galway poets are possibly more famous for our stinging critiques than for our tributes,” she added with a smile. “But in times of monsters, we have to be lighthouses for each other – and that’s what this poem is about.”
Her poem began with a stark, compassionate call to conscience:
“In the worst of times, look for the helpers, the bright spots, the lighthouses –
the street seller throwing his oranges onto the tarpaulins of aid trucks stuck at the border with Rafah…
the women in Shannon trespassing, pitting their bodies against militarism…
the Muslim sisters of Éire offering food without judgement.”
Across its verses, Lighthouses charted a course through the moral storms of our age — war, inequality, and complacency – while holding fast to the light of courage, conscience, and compassion.
In one of its most striking passages, Clancy reflected on the legacy of President Higgins:
“Remember that twice over one million of us voted for a President who all his life stood against empire…
who loves dogs and soccer and takes time to write poems about donkeys…
whose fury, when provoked by injustice, is white-hot and righteous, and who speaks for us.”
The poem’s closing lines echoed the President’s own lifelong call for hope and moral renewal:
“In the grimmest of times, seek out the helpers, the lighthouses…
and remember, when you think no change is possible, that twice over more than a million voters chose hope and radical empathy.
Never doubt that things can be different – if, as Michael D says, we’d only give up our old cynicism.”
The performance drew a standing ovation from the packed hall, which also featured other Galway voices, including Vicky Donnelly of Financial Justice Ireland. Then Galway West TD, now President, Catherine Connolly, was also in attendance, reflecting the county’s deep connection to the President’s lifelong values and vision.
Since performing Lighthouses, Clancy has joined the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, where she was detained for several days by Israeli authorities. Her experience – standing in solidarity with civilians under siege – echoes the spirit of moral courage and empathy at the heart of both her poem and the values championed by President Higgins.
IDEA CEO Ruairí McKiernan, who presented the award, said it felt timely to share Lighthouses again as the President returns home.
“Sarah’s poem captured something profound about Michael D – his deep humanity, his intellectual courage, and his belief that education and culture can change the world,” Mr McKiernan said. “It also speaks to what he’s given us – a moral challenge, and the inspiration to keep working for change. As he returns home to Galway, this poem feels like a fitting light to guide the next chapter.”
