President Michael D. Higgins appeared at Dublin's RDS today to speak on activism in music. Introduced by Hot Press editor Niall Stokes, the President arrived to rapturous applause following a short performance from rapper Temper-Mental MissElayneous, who skillfully weaved a fusion of traditional Irish music and her own brand of fierce rap stylings.
The President appeared to enjoy it, greeting the rapper warmly, before telling the crowd how he had been "anxious to come to The Music Show... it's about vibrancy in the debate in music."
He thanked Hot Press editor Niall Stokes for providing him with a platform to write in the '80s, calling it "an example of his early courage", but concentrated his speech on the power and possibility of music. "Music crosses all the boundaries in generations" he said.
With references to the late, great Bill Graham of Hot Press, Gavin Friday (he recalled overhearing a colleague say "the minister is thinking of appointing a Mr. Thursday") and Leonard Cohen's new album, he came across as a man clearly in love with the arts, and also thanked those artists who had supported him during his long campaign. "I want to say thank you to them, they are people I like to be with."

After the stirring speech, Niall Stokes was on hand to present the President with a framed photo of Phil Lynott and Rory Gallagher to, in his words, "get some rock 'n' roll onto the walls of Aras An Uachtarain."

Mission accomplished.