Do you think he's right?
The leader of the DUP says the president’s decision not to attend an event marking the centenary of Northern Ireland is a 'retrograde step'.
Michael D Higgins has said he chose not to attend a religious service in Armagh next month commemorating partition.
The President described the event as political, and stated that in the invitation he was referred to as the President of the Republic of Ireland, and said he is the President of Ireland.
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson says he is disappointed by the president’s decision.
The President has also referred to the DUP's reaction as "a bit much".
Our President is spot on in his refusal to attend the event in Armagh. How can the President of Ireland attend an event where the organisers refused to title him correctly and where partition is commemorated?
— Joe Morley (@sixpointsup) September 17, 2021
He is the President of Ireland.
Ireland is not just the 26 counties of the Republic. Ireland is it’s people, and it’s diaspora.He is the President of the Irish people. https://t.co/P5D1MIxnEc
— ???????/????????️⚧️ (@Donnan_S) September 17, 2021
Unionists have also weighed in on the matter
The President of the Republic of Ireland is offended at being called the President of the Republic of Ireland.
Apparently the ‘process’ requires that we must pretend he is President of ‘Ireland’, which presumably means he thinks he has some say in Northern Ireland. He doesn’t.
— Jamie Bryson (@JamieBrysonCPNI) September 17, 2021
