Irish President Catherine Connolly begins official visit to Scotland

Irish President Catherine Connolly has commenced a four-day official visit to Scotland, beginning with a meeting with First Minister John Swinney at Bute House in Edinburgh. The meeting follows a previous encounter in Dublin last November, where Mr. Swinney was the first overseas leader to meet President Connolly following her inauguration.

During her visit, President Connolly will receive an honorary fellowship from the Royal Society of Edinburgh. She is also scheduled to review a collaborative project between the Royal Society and the Royal Irish Academy aimed at supporting deaf victims of gender-based violence in rural areas.

The President’s itinerary includes travel to Glasgow, Coatbridge, and the Isle of Skye, where she will visit Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Scotland’s National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture. President Connolly noted that Ireland and Scotland are linked by “strong ties of friendship, culture and language,” while First Minister Swinney expressed his determination to strengthen the “deep and enduring connections” between the two nations.