President Catherine Connolly begins first official visit to Northern Ireland today

"The three-day tour is being viewed as a significant diplomatic milestone, particularly following President Connolly's inauguration - an event notably missed by the DUP, who cited a diary clash with Remembrance Day events for their absence at the time. In her inauguration address, President Connolly committed to making 'the North' her first official destination. A spokesperson for her office said: "The visit will be 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.""

"The visit will commence with a meeting with First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle at 10.30am. The President will later deliver an address at the Ulster University Campus in north Belfast at 1.30pm. Over the course of the day, President Connolly will also visit a number of community initiatives in Belfast. The President's official visit to Northern Ireland will continue on Thursday and Friday with engagements in Derry. While Ms Connolly has crossed the border recently to attend events surrounding Irish language legislation, this week marks her formal introduction to the region as a head of state."

President Connolly will make a three-day official visit to Northern Ireland as her first destination, meeting Stormont leaders and visiting communities in Belfast and Derry. The visit begins with a Stormont Castle meeting with First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at 10.30am, followed by an address at Ulster University in north Belfast at 1.30pm and visits to local community initiatives. The visit continues on Thursday and Friday with engagements in Derry. The visit fulfils an inauguration commitment to meet people from all communities and celebrate the region's heritage, despite the DUP missing the inauguration due to a Remembrance Day diary clash.

Read at Irish Independent