President in Mayo for holidays

President Mary McAleese was on holidays in the west Mayo area last week and accompanied Taoiseach Enda Kenny on a walk in the footsteps of St Patrick along the Tochar Phadraig. The pair are pictured on the route near Aughagower last Wednesday. ?Pic: Michael McLaughlin

President holidays in West Mayo


PRESIDENT Mary McAleese and her husband Martin last week enjoyed a private holiday in the west Mayo area.
On Wednesday, The President enjoyed a relaxing walk along the 22-mile Tochar Phadraig route, which runs from well-known Ballintubber Abbey to the foot of Croagh Patrick.
The visit was not an official one and the President stayed in Knockranny House Hotel in Westport.
While walking along the Tochar Phadraig, 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.
On Wednesday evening, the President joined members of her family for a meal in An Port Mór restaurant.
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.


FAMOUS VISITORS An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and President Mary McAleese pictured outside the Duffy household in Killawalla, back, from left: Kitty and Ollie Dillon, Enda Kenny, Sean Carter, John Carter, Ann Duffy holding Emily Moran; Paul Breslin (partially hidden), President Mary McAleese, Olivia Duffy holding Aoife Moran, Martin McAleese. Front: Caroline Breslin, Eoghan Breslin, Darragh Breslin and Padraig Duffy.