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Emma Little-Pengelly, from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has declined an invitation to attend the inauguration of Ireland’s new president, Catherine Connolly, due to prior commitments in Belfast and Windsor for Remembrance Day. Her statement on Friday afternoon cited a service and Act of Remembrance she is scheduled to participate in Parliament Buildings, followed by a special reception at Windsor Castle to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister, Michelle O’Neill will be in attendance at the Dublin Castle ceremony on Tuesday alongside Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald. Little-Pengelly expressed her well wishes to Connolly and hopes to have a conversation with her in the near future. She stated that the significance of Remembrance Day makes it impossible for her to also attend the presidential inauguration in Dublin.
In previous years, the DUP’s Peter Robinson joined the presidential inauguration of Michael D Higgins. Catherine Connolly, who was elected as the 10th president of the Republic of Ireland after a landslide victory, served as a councillor in Galway for 17 years and became the first woman to chair debates in the Dáil in 2020. She has expressed her desire to see a united Ireland achieved through peaceful means and voter consent from both parts of the island.
Connolly’s surprise win brought together opposition parties and secured support from various political groups. Outside of politics, she is known for her passion for the Irish language and sports activities like marathon running and competitive badminton. She has a strong belief in the peaceful reunification of Ireland under the provisions of the Irish Constitution
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