Irish president to meet King and visit Leeds on UK visit
Catherine Connolly’s three day trip will conclude with visits to Leeds University and the Leeds Irish Centre.
The President of Ireland has said there is “hardly a sector” of British life that has not been influenced by the Irish as she began a visit to the UK in which she is expected to meet the King.
Catherine Connolly’s three day trip is her first official visit to England since her inauguration in November, when she spoke about her commitment to engaging with the Irish diaspora.
The visit began on Monday with a visit to the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London, where she delivered an address and met those participating in an Irish language class.
In her speech at the Irish Cultural Centre, Ms Connolly said: “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.”
The Galway politician is also expected to have an engagement with Charles.
The Irish ambassador to Britain, Martin Fraser, and Deirdre Fraser will host a reception on Monday evening in honour of Ms Connolly and her husband, Brian McEnery, at the Irish embassy in London.
The visit will continue on Tuesday when the president visits the Chelsea Flower Show and the London Irish Centre in Camden.
It will conclude on Wednesday with visits to Leeds University and the Leeds Irish Centre.
In Leeds, Ms Connolly will be briefed on the work of the Irish Health Centre there and will also meet representatives of other Irish centres in the region.
It is the third official visit the president has undertaken since beginning her term of office, after visits to Northern Ireland and Spain.