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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Anna McAree

Derry man on meeting a former US President during a trip to the shops

It isn't every day you meet a US President, never mind meeting one on your way to the shops.

Derry man Karl Duncan experienced exactly this when he left his friends house and bumped into former US President Bill Clinton.

Karl had already attended President Biden's event in Belfast through the Washington Ireland Programme, so did not expect this chance encounter.

Read more: New RTE series highlights Derry Foyle Search and Rescue heroes

He says he noticed a commotion on Belfast's Botanic Avenue, and once he saw who the crowds had surrounded he knew he had to take his chance to speak to Mr Clinton.

Speaking to MyDerry, Karl said: "I was just leaving the house for the shop around midday, I saw this massive crowd surrounding someone and even the builders working in the street were looking at something. I looked over and realised it was Bill Clinton.

"I was very aware of the fact I was not dressed to meet the former US President but I went over anyway and his security were beginning to move him away. I thought 'well I've made it this far' so I called after him and said 'excuse me Mr President!'

"He turned around and I said 'I’m Karl and I’m from Derry and I just wanted to say thank you for your role in bringing peace to Ireland'. I told him I will be at the event by the Hume foundation in the Guildhall tomorrow too and hopefully I would see him there.

"He shook my hand and he said it would be good to see me again. I was in such disbelief it was happening but he was so nice and warm in the way he spoke to me. It was a great experience and one of his security took a photo of both of us."

Karl took to social media to tweet the photo of him and former US President Clinton, but he didn't expect a reply from Bill Clinton's own account.

Karl said: "I tweeted the photo and it just went crazy, it has gotten hundreds of thousands of views. I got a lot of hate comments but mainly positive ones.

"I was in bed that evening when I saw that Bill Clinton had replied to the tweet talking about how he was only part of the process and he was coming to Derry to honour John Hume and David Trimble which I thought was a really humble response.

"I’m still a bit in disbelief that it happened but it was a great experience to meet him and possibly see him again tomorrow at the Guildhall."

Former US President Bill Clinton is expected in Derry on Tuesday to give a keynote speech at an event to honour the late John Hume and David Trimble.

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