Catherine Connolly and husband show their real sides during Irish island visit
One local councillor used just five words to sum them up perfectly after he met them
Catherine Connolly and her husband are both enjoying a second trip around Donegal in the space of six months and they’ve made a big impression on the locals.
Buncrana Fianna Fáil Councillor Fionán Bradley welcomed the Irish president and her husband Brian McEnery to Arranmore Island on Wednesday.
The new Cathaoirleach of Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) was singing the praises of the pair saying that he enjoyed their company and that they were simply “lovely down to earth people”.
President Connolly is visiting a number of Donegal islands over the coming days, including Arranmore, Tory Island, Inishbofin and Rutland Island.
As part of her visit to Arranmore on Wednesday, the President was invited to visit Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada, where Cllr Bradley officially welcomed her and accompanied her around the school.
The Buncrana Councillor said he was delighted to greet President Connolly and her husband, Brian, as they disembarked from the ferry on Wednesday morning.
“I had the honour of officially welcoming her to and accompanying her round the school on Arranmore as Cathaoirleach of Donegal ETB, and I was delighted to be there today to greet her as she disembarked from the ferry,” he said.
Cllr Bradley said it was the first time he had met the President in person and made the occasion particularly memorable as his first official engagement since taking up the role of Cathaoirleach of Donegal ETB.
He said both President Connolly and her husband were “lovely down to earth people” and that he enjoyed engaging conversations with both of them during the visit.
Thankfully, the weather also played its part, with Cllr Bradley saying the President “very much enjoyed her visit to the island and the county”.
The President’s Donegal island tour will continue over the coming days, with visits to other island communities highlighting life, education and community on some of the county’s offshore islands.