President Mary McAlease and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny stopped to pose for a picture with local residents in Killawalla earlier today.
President McAleese on holidays in west Mayo
Taoiseach Enda Kenny accompanies President on Tochar Phadraig walk
Michael Duffy
PRESIDENT Mary McAleese and her husband Martin are this week enjoying a private holiday in the west Mayo area.
The President is today (Wednesday) enjoying a relaxing walk along the 22-mile Tochar Phadraig route, which runs from well-known Ballintubber Abbey to the foot of Croagh Patrick. It is not clear whether the President will complete the entire journey, although it is believed she climbed the Holy Mountain yesterday (Tuesday).
The visit is not an official one but it is believed the President is staying in Knockranny House Hotel in Westport for the remainder of her stay.
While walking along the Tochar Phadraig this afternoon, the President chatted with residents from the Ballintubber and Killawalla areas, and posed for some photos with family groups.
“We got some shock this morning when we were told that the President and Taoiseach would be walking by our front door,” said Ann Duffy from Killawalla.
“We have met Enda on a few occasions but it is not often that both the Taoiseach and the President would be seen together in such relaxed circumstances. President McAleese and her husband Martin were really down to earth and chatted with everyone. The weather was also perfect so we had great excitement here all afternoon,” added Ann.
Both An Taoiseach and the President will be back on more formal duty in Westport from May 27 to May 29, when they will attend an international convention of Mayo Associations throughout the world, which is being held in Hotel Westport.
