President to visit

THE President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, is to make a historic visit to Guernsey. The Guernsey Irish Association, the Guernsey Gaels GAA and the Irish community announced today that the eighth president, who was inaugurated in November 1997, will be here on 15 September.

She will visit Delancey Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady Star of the Sea, which was built mainly by Irish labour in the 1800s.

Her visit, with husband Dr Martin McAleese, will partly be in memory of those workers and the Irish labour who built the Alderney breakwater, many of whom died and are buried there.

It is hoped that she will unveil a plaque to commemorate the recent refurbishment of the church, which was renovated under the direction of the island's Roman Catholic Dean, Michael Hore.

An official reception will be held at St Pierre Park Hotel on the same day for up to 250 invited guests from within the Bailiwick.

'It's something I have been working on for a substantial period of time - for nearly two years,' said organiser and Guernsey resident Eoghan 'Frank' O'Neill.

'The fact she has agreed to come to the Channel Islands and visit the Irish community and islanders is quite seismic.

'It will be one of the most poignant, moving and memorable, yet historic events for the Irish community in the Bailiwick,' he said.

'It's so historic and so exciting for the Irish community because it was kept so secret.

'Because she is such a powerful president I have found it exceptionally humbling that the president has agreed to come and visit us,' said Mr O'Neill, who has lived in Guernsey for 38 years.

'Putting it in the context that a foreign head of state is willing to meet people on a one-to-one basis, as far as advertising for Guernsey goes, money could not buy it,' he claimed.

He has known about the possible visit since January but had been sworn to secrecy and met with an advanced party from Ireland who assessed the venues.

'I had to await approval from the protocol officer of the Embassy of Ireland in London to extend the invitations,' he revealed.

'To be able to extend an invitation and to have it accepted has been overwhelming.'

The barrister and former Professor of Law and her husband have accepted the invitation to come and meet and greet the Irish community in Guernsey, as well as meet local, Latvian and Portuguese representatives.

'The feedback I have had has been truly phenomenal, they are totally overjoyed their President is taking the time to visit them,' said Mr O'Neill.

He has also been instrumental in arranging for the couple to visit Jersey, where their jet will stay as it could not get into Guernsey.

There they will attend a reception hosted by the Bailiff Sir Phillip Bailhache.

Many of the island's Irish community, believed to be as many as 4,000, regularly attend the Delancey and St Joseph's churches.

One of the stain-glassed windows at Delancey Church depicts the Lady looking out to sea.

A new altar has been designed, built and installed in the church and a new lectern depicts the four evangelists.

The following day the President will attend one of the largest sporting events in Ireland - the All Ireland Gaelic Football final at Croke Park, Dublin.