President Connolly holidays in Achill

President Catherine Connolly was among the thousands who flocked to Achill for summer holidays.

The President was in Achill for a number of days last week, staying at rented accommodation in Dooega at the southern end of the island.

She stayed regularly at that accommodation in Dooega in the past but this was her first visit since taking office.

Straightaway upon arrival, she and a minder got on their bikes and cycled down to the local Blue Flag beach.

“It was quite the sight to witness the President of Ireland cycling in our village and it is great to see her having the freedom to do so,” said one local. She mingled with students attending the Coláiste Acla Irish summer school, conversed with fishermen at the pier and took a walk to a headland for a pristine view of Clare Island.

Requests for photographs were gently declined, with the President saying she was ‘ar laethanta saoire’.

Herself and her husband Brian McEnery visited Achillbeg Island as part of the local Féile Chill Damhnait festival, joining hundreds of day-trippers on the island, which last housed a permanent population in 1965.

She joined a guided walk there led by Vivian Ruddy and was brought over and back on a rib piloted by Tony Kennedy. She freely mingled with people on the beach before departing.

She also went on the picturesque Slí Ghráinne Mhaol walk in Derreens during the festival.

The President is a regular sea swimmer and often joined local sea swimmers in Dooega in the past. She took to the waters again on this visit to Achill.

The highlight of the trip for locals in Dooega was a gathering with the President for tea and scones at Coláiste Acla. Present were proprietor Martán Ó Mongáin and his family, past and present mná an tí and a number of locals.

The conversation flew as Gaeilge.

“She is so down to earth. We had a lovely conversation and she really loves coming to our village,” said one bean an tí.