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Irish President Catherine Connolly’s recent visit to Northern Ireland involved navigating a complex array of political sensitivities and expectations. Over three days, she traveled to both Belfast and Londonderry, marking her first trip north since taking office. Among her engagements was a meeting at Stormont Castle with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) deputy first minister—a notable encounter given his absence from her inauguration due to prior commitments. Connolly also delivered a carefully crafted speech in Belfast that was designed to avoid political controversy and visited significant sites in Londonderry, including the Museum of Free Derry and the Apprentice Boys’ headquarters.
Despite these efforts at balance, Connolly’s visit still drew criticism from DUP MP for East Londonderry, Gregory Campbell. When they briefly met, Campbell expressed his disappointment over Connolly’s omission of the term “Londonderry” in her speech, stating, “I was more than disappointed that in her speech there were numerous references to Derry, but not a single reference to Londonderry.” He pointed out that while Connolly mentioned events such as Bloody Sunday, she neglected the experiences of the unionist community on the west bank of the Foyle, where unionists now make up only about 5% of the population due to suffering intimidation and violence. Campbell said Connolly apologized for the oversight and that they agreed on the importance of building a better future despite the difficult history.
The interaction between Connolly and Campbell included a moment captured on camera, where Campbell told her, “You’re in our country – tonight I’m going to your country,” referencing his opposition to a border poll in Dublin. The exchange, though tense, also featured smiles and a handshake, suggesting a civil, if strained, rapport. The DUP later highlighted Campbell’s remarks in their weekly email to members, praising him for “never afraid to speak up and speak out” and comparing Connolly’s visit unfavorably to Queen Elizabeth II’s 2011 visit to Dublin, which they called “an exemplar in reconciliation.” While some may view Campbell’s conduct as rude, supporters would argue he was standing up for his community’s perspective.
While Connolly’s visit drew some criticism, it was mild compared to past incidents involving Irish presidents. For instance, her predecessor Michael D Higgins famously boycotted a church service in 2021 marking Northern Ireland’s centenary because he found the title “inappropriate” for attendance. Another former president, Mary McAleese, faced backlash after comments she made about sectarian education in Northern Ireland, for which she later apologized. Compared to these instances, Connolly’s visit was relatively uneventful, even memorable for lighter moments, such as her demonstration of basketball skills during a visit to a cross-community sports scheme in Belfast. Her willingness to engage in these symbolic gestures showed a more playful side, though, as always in Northern Ireland, political sensitivities mean there’s often still a few hoops to jump through
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