President Higgins visits ISA's Cara Club

The Committee and Staff of the Irish Support Agency were honoured to welcome President of Ireland / Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins along with his wife Sabina, The Tánaiste France Fitzgerald to our Cara Club seniors group on Saturday while on their State Visit to Australia.

President Higgins, Sabina Higgins, The Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and former Irish Ambassador to Australia Noel White with Irish Support Agency Committee & Staff members.

This was a truly historic day for our organisation and, more importantly, a day our senior Cara Club members will never forget. The excitement among our seniors has been huge over the weeks leading up to the visit and we are thrilled to have been able to make this possible for them.

Addressing our guests, President Higgins paid tribute to the work of our Agency for the help we provide to members of the Irish community who find themselves in difficulty and thanked the agency for protecting Irish individuals on their own or helping people who are grieving a long way from home.

President Higgins spoke positively of our engagement with younger members of the Irish Community in Sydney, which is something we have been placing huge efforts into over the past few years through the development of new projects and events.

To mark the special occasion, ISA President Harvey James presented President Higgins with an ornate pocket watch inscribed with our logo and the date of the visit, and Sabina with a scarf featuring a print of the Great Barrier Reef. President Higgins presented Harvey with a Newbridge Silverware Quill Pen, Holder and Inkwell Set.

You can read more about the visit in the Irish Times article here

Go raibh maith agat

Our deepest thanks to Consul General Jane Connolly and staff from Irish Consulate Sydney for facilitating the visit and for their ongoing support.

Thanks also to the fantastic chefs Brendan & Adam from 34Bia for generously donating a delicious lunch spread of soda bread, black pudding and scones and jam.

Lastly, thanks to loyal ISA volunteer and supporter Ciara Rafferty who took the fantastic photographs that our Cara Club Seniors will cherish forever.