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.”
She added: “Historically, modern-day immigration was driven by economic factors, with large numbers leaving Ireland for London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and elsewhere.
“This occurred in waves and we know that from the 19th century and the 20th century, and unfortunately today as well, we have people leaving our shores for various reasons, but some of them for lack of housing.”
Aengus Collins O’Malley, 49, said it was great to see the president “reaching out to the Irish diaspora”.
He said: “She is our head of state and she is an individual who is known for promoting the Irish language.”
Asked about Anglo-Irish relations, Mr Collins O’Malley, who gives history lessons on Michael Collins at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, said: “They are always great when the Tories are not in power.”
Oisin Moroney, 21, who performed an Irish dance for Ms Connolly on Monday, said: “It was great for her to come here.
“I was grateful to be able to welcome her into the country.
“You always get that bit of nerves but as soon as I started dancing, they just went away.”
Mr Moroney, from Hammersmith, west London, who was born to Irish parents, said: “We were growing up as Irish as you could be without growing up in Ireland.”
Larry O’Leary, 74, chairman of the Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Festival Community Advisory Board, said: “I love the way she promotes the Irish language at every opportunity. She is not afraid to speak her mind.”
“It shows you how much the president and her office care about maintaining Irish culture,” he added.
Mr O’Leary also served as chairman of the Council of Irish County Associations (CICA).
The president is expected to have an engagement with Charles later.
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.
