Irish President Catherine Connolly has commenced her first official visit to England since her inauguration, with a scheduled meeting with King Charles. During her three-day trip, she highlighted the profound influence of the Irish on British society, stating that there is "hardly a sector" of life in Britain that has not been touched by the Irish.
Visit to Irish Cultural Centre
On Monday, President Connolly visited the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London, where she delivered a speech and engaged with participants in an Irish language class. She remarked on the diverse contributions of the Irish diaspora, spanning arts, culture, healthcare, education, construction, and professional 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," she said.
Connolly also addressed historical and contemporary emigration from Ireland, noting that economic factors have driven waves of migration since the 19th and 20th centuries, and that today, some leave due to housing shortages.
Engagement with Royalty and Diaspora
The president is expected to meet King Charles during her visit. On Monday evening, Irish Ambassador to Britain Martin Fraser and his wife Deirdre Fraser will host a reception at the Irish embassy in London in honour of Connolly and her husband, Brian McEnery.
Tuesday's itinerary 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 she will receive briefings on the Irish Health Centre and meet representatives from regional Irish centres.
This marks President Connolly's third official visit since taking office, following trips to Northern Ireland and Spain.
