PRESIDENT AT 8D

Higgins hails ‘life-changing’ wife Sabina

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to his wife Sabina on his 80th birthday describing what she’s brought to his life as “inestimable”.

The former Labour TD lavished praise on his spouse of almost 50 years in a special interview from Aras An Uachtarain on Friday’s Late Late Show.

He told host Ryan Tubridy she “changed my life in so many ways” and added: “What Sabina brought into my life is inestimable.”

The couple wed in 1974 and have four children together – Alice Mary, twins John and Michael Jr, and son Daniel.

Mr Higgins said of Sabina: “She changed my life in so many ways and introduced me to such great friends in the theatre and the arts and so on.

“I’ve been gifted with friendship, I’ve had fabulous friendships. I only hope I continue to give something back to them.”

He said the first couple are looking forward to spending some quality time with their granddaughter once restrictions lift and it is safe to do so.

HUMBLE

He added: “Sabina and I are so looking forward to meeting our grandchild. My son John, and Eva his wife, and Fiadh, our granddaughter they’re in Wicklow.

“I’m looking forward to when Covid is over to meeting them.”

Viewers hailed him as “humble, intelligent and decent” and a “national treasure” as he opened up about his upbringing and life before politics.

Tubridy poked fun at the president’s rock ‘n’ roll days, calling out his denim and “man sandals” which he sported to Bob Dylan’s concert at Slane Castle in 1984.

But Mr Higgins took it all in good humour during the candid 30-minute chat.

He laughed: “I think that was my last navy silk shirt...that I wasn’t wearing.”

And he admitted “there were no regrets”.

Of the newest addition to the family, a young Bernese mountain dog called Misneach, he added: “He’ll be seven months old on May 5.

“He’s been nipping but that’s a phase dogs go through and there are ways to deal with it in a kind way.”