President Catherine Connolly to make first visit to Derry in official capacity
President Catherine Connolly will visit Derry for the first time in her official capacity this week.
President Connolly will be in the city on Thursday and Friday as part of a three day visit to the North.
It fulfils a commitment in her inauguration address in which she said she would travel north to meet with people from ‘all communities and celebrate the rich heritage and traditions of all who live there’.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly welcomed the President to Stormont Castle on Wednesday.
Mrs. O’Neill said: “I was delighted to welcome Catherine Connolly, Uachtarán na hÉireann, to Belfast today. Her inauguration was a landmark moment - not just in Ireland’s history, but for all our people.
“President Connolly has been a strong advocate for equality, accountability, and the Irish language throughout her career. Today’s visit underlines the importance of continuing to work together on opportunities that benefit every community across this island. I look forward to what we can achieve when we listen, learn, and act together.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “We had a positive engagement with President Connolly.
“I believe in building positive working relationships, particularly important in the context of our closest neighbour, based on mutual respect.”
The Galway-native was elected 10th President of Ireland by a wide margin last October.
She received 75 per cent of valid votes cast in Donegal on her way to becoming the tenth President.
Polling 914,143 first preference votes (63.36%) across the 26 counties on October 24, she won the largest mandate of any President in Irish history.