Imagination and the Nation / Samhlaíocht agus An Náisiún During 2019, President Higgins attended or hosted 27 events related to the “Samhlaíocht agus An Náisiún – Imagination and The Nation” initiative, which is aimed at highlighting the powerful and transformative role of art and creativity in the evolution of Ireland as a republic and an idea. The creative arts have often played an important role in bringing together the many strands of Ireland’s past, present and future, teasing through the tangle of history, taking up hidden threads in our social fabric and weaving new possibilities for the future. Art allows us to reflect on different lived experiences, past and present, bearing witness, bringing healing and calling to action. It is intrinsically inter-generational – allowing for connections and conversations to be forged and renewed in different times and changing circumstance. The Imagination and the Nation initiative is grounded in the themes President Higgins has put forward as part of his vision for Ireland, including Equal Participation and Sustainable Communities. It highlights the necessity of art and creativity in contemporary Irish life and its power to engage, challenge, transform and empower, and celebrates moments of collective creativity and vision-making – imagining and achieving a more equal republic and a better shared future.
Unveiling a sculpture in honour of Luke Kelly, January 2019
27 2019 IN REVIEW
