WATCH: Heart-melting scene as President Michael D Higgins hugs adorable fans at Bloom
The President was gentle and kind, stooping down to meet the children at their level, and reciprocating their hug
A heartwarming scene unfolded at Bord Bia Bloom this Thursday after the President of Ireland delivered his opening speech of the garden festival.
Following his speech, President Michael D Higgins was greeted by two youngsters, who approached him with a cheerful "hello President" before denying a handshake, opting instead to embrace him in a warm hug.
The touching moment was captured on video and shared by RTÉ One on social media.
The President was gentle and kind, stooping down to meet the children at their level, and reciprocating their hug.
In February, the 83-year-old spent several days in hospital after experiencing a stroke, orf what was then reported as a "mild transient weakness."
In April, and while speaking ahead of a lecture at the University of Manchester, he said he is 90% recovered.
This Thursday, he made his speech at the Bord Bia Bloom Gardening Festival, which takes place during the June bank holiday weekend annually in Dublin's Phoenix Park.