THE Irish President has offered up high praise for the English language in the place of Shakespeare's birth as he concluded an historic state visit to the UK.
On a visit to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, he spoke of the "delight" of a shared, powerful language and humour between the British and the Irish.
Mr Higgins, welcomed to the stage with warm applause to make his address, said: "I just want to acknowledge the English language we share.
"If it was once the forced language of conquest, it is today the very language in which we have now come to delight and share our different and complimentary understanding of what it means to be human together in this world, transacting in the currency of words over the ages.
"To share a language is to privilege the existence of the other, accept the joy and responsibility of hospitality at all times and in all things."
Arriving at the riverside theatre in glorious sunshine, about 100 people welcomed the presidential motorcade.
Mr Higgins, accompanied by his wife Sabina, was given a backstage tour before being treated to a brief performance from the RSC's current billing - Shakespeare's Henry IV.
He was later presented with The Complete Works of Shakespeare, signed by the acting company, and gave the RSC a copy of The Book of Kells, before visiting the nearby 16th century Shakespeare's birthplace, to view that part of the museum's collection which bears an Irish connection.
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