Irish President Catherine Connolly has commenced her first official visit to England since her inauguration in November, with a scheduled meeting with King Charles. During a three-day trip, she is emphasising the profound impact of the Irish diaspora on British society.
Visit to Irish Cultural Centre
On Monday, the president visited the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London, where she delivered a speech and engaged with participants in an Irish language class. She stated: "The Irish contribution to British society is as diverse as can be imagined. From the arts and culture, to healthcare, education, construction and infrastructure, as well as professional, scientific and technical services. Indeed, there is hardly a sector of the economy or an area of life that has not been touched by the Irish here in Britain."
Ms Connolly also noted that historical immigration waves were driven by economic factors, with large numbers leaving Ireland for cities such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham. She acknowledged that emigration continues today, partly due to housing shortages.
Reactions from the Irish Community
Aengus Collins O’Malley, 49, who teaches history on Michael Collins at the centre, praised the president for reaching out to the Irish diaspora and promoting the Irish language. When asked about Anglo-Irish relations, he remarked: "They are always great when the Tories are not in power."
Oisin Moroney, 21, performed an Irish dance for Ms Connolly and expressed gratitude for her visit. He said: "You always get that bit of nerves but as soon as I started dancing, they just went away." Born to Irish parents in Hammersmith, he noted growing up "as Irish as you could be without growing up in Ireland."
Larry O’Leary, 74, chairman of the Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Festival Community Advisory Board, appreciated how the president promotes the Irish language and speaks her mind. He added: "It shows you how much the president and her office care about maintaining Irish culture."
Engagement with the King and Other Events
The president is expected to meet King Charles later during the visit. On Monday evening, the Irish ambassador to Britain, Martin Fraser, and Deirdre Fraser will host a reception at the Irish embassy in London.
Tuesday’s schedule includes visits to the Chelsea Flower Show and the London Irish Centre in Camden. The trip concludes on Wednesday with stops at Leeds University and the Leeds Irish Centre, where Ms Connolly will learn about the Irish Health Centre and meet representatives from other Irish centres in the region.
This marks the president’s third official visit since taking office, following trips to Northern Ireland and Spain.
