Catherine Connolly: Irish President attends civic reception at Guildhall as her NI visit continues
It follows a meeting with the First and Deputy First Ministers at Stormont Castle yesterday
Last updated 5th Feb 2026
Irish president Catherine Connolly continued her three-day official visit today (Thursday) to Northern Ireland with a number of engagements in Co Londonderry.
Ms Connolly addressed a civic reception at the Guildhall, where she was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry Ian Crowe and Derry City Mayor Ruairi McHugh.
In her address, Ms Connolly said she had visited Derry many times in the past and always left "with a feeling of wanting to return".
The President praised the city's contributions to the peace process, saying "Derry has shown us the path from conflict to peace" after she had viewed the Nobel Peace Prize shared by John Hume and David Trimble.
She added: "The other thing that jumps out, of course, as someone who's been quite critical of the government, let me praise the Irish government in terms of the reconciliation fund, because all of these projects have been funded by the reconciliation fund, and they're full of hope and vision and the champion of diversity and building a brighter future."
In the afternoon, she is expected to visit the Museum of Free Derry where she will view the exhibition on Bloody Sunday.
Last Friday marked the 54th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
Ms Connolly met with some 50 family members of those who were killed and injured in 1972.
Over the course of the day, the president will also visit a number of community initiatives across Derry.
Her three-day visit to Northern Ireland marks the first official visit of President Connolly's presidency and fulfils a commitment made in her inauguration address that her first official visit would be to Northern Ireland, where she would meet with people from all communities and celebrate the rich heritage and traditions of all who live there.
Yesterday (Wednesday) Ms Connolly began her official visit with a number of engagements in Belfast, including a meeting with First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle (see pic below).
The visit will conclude with a further engagement in Derry tomorrow (Friday).