Respond visit Áras an Uachtaráin
Respond Housing Association ‘Jubilee30 Celebration’ as Ireland’s leading housing charity were honoured with an invitation to..Respond Housing Association ‘Jubilee30 Celebration’ as Ireland’s leading housing charity were honoured with an invitation to visit Áras an Uachtaráin on 13th March 2013. A delighted group of Respond families, volunteers and staff members travelled to meet with His Excellency, President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. This trip gave Respond, who has been to the forefront of social housing for over 30 years, the chance to celebrate their joint vision, with the President, of creating positive change through inclusive, collaborative and united communities.
The President spoke very movingly and strongly about the work Respond are doing on behalf of communities and encouraged us to still greater efforts to achieve equality of treatment and opportunity for all.
After the introductions and speeches the President listened to a chapter of the story, read by the winner of our story telling competition, Lynette McGowan and a group from our Western Region played violin.
It was a wonderful day for the organisation and to mark the occasion President Higgins was presented with a Respond scroll and a piece of Waterford Crystal.