Sprints, NewDad and Junior Brother pay tribute to Michael D. Higgins

Sprints' Zac Stephenson:

The thing that’s so amazing about Michael D is as a politician, he’s actually a real human being. You can see him and relate to him. He has interests, he has hobbies, he has dogs. He’s not thinking about optics or whatever. He’s someone to look up to as a man who’s principled, has been principled, and has tried to live a happy existence. What more could you want in an ambassador for a country? You know, I love the man so much. Also, his album’s really good – I listened to it and was like, ‘Fuck, these poems are good!’

Junior Brother:

It’ll be sad to see him leave the office. I think everybody feels this sense of sadness. Especially for artists in this country, he was incredibly and vocally supportive. Just in terms of his morality and his ethics as well, he always came through. Even now, how vocal he is about Palestine and how passionate he is when he talks about things he believes in, because he believes they’re right.

There’s an incredible moral fortitude there, and a righteousness that is very empathetic and inspiring. He’s just an an incredibly empathetic man, and an incredible representative of our country. He represents the best of us in a lot of ways. They’re big boots to fill.

NewDad:

Julie: I met him once in Da Roberta’s, which is a little Italian restaurant in Salthill. Actually, my mom wouldn’t let me go up to him. She was like, ‘He’s having his dinner, Julie, would you stop!’

Sean: I met him at a count in Leisureland, years ago. I was only six or seven. He was there and my dad said, ‘He’s going to be president one day.’ So I went up to him and asked if I could have a hug. And I hugged him!

Read our in-depth cover story interview with Michael D. Higgins – and tributes from Cillian Murphy, Bob Geldof, Niall Horan, Dermot Kennedy, Denise Chaila and more – in the current issue of Hot Press, out now: