Students Engage with New ‘Cool’ President Catherine Connolly

Catherine Connolly has been described as a “great” President by students who met her shortly after her inauguration. The event took place at Dublin Castle, where children from Francis Street School witnessed an impressive Air Corps flypast as the Presidential Salute echoed around them.

Children’s Reaction to President Connolly

As Ms. Connolly completed her inspection of the Guard of Honour, she waved to the excited children. Before heading to her official residence at Áras an Uachtaráin, she engaged with the students, shaking hands and sharing high fives.

After the event, pupil Luna Flynn shared her positive impressions. She noted that President Connolly complimented her yellow bows, saying they were “really nice.” Luna expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I think she’s really good and great,” and believed Connolly would make a great fit for the role.

• Ellis Byrne remarked that the President was “very nice” and would be “great for the future.”
• Declan McGuinness described her as “really cool and kind.”
• AJ Stack referred to President Connolly’s impressive football skills, noting her ability to perform keepie-uppies, and anticipated her success in her new position.

History of Francis Street School

Francis Street School, located in the historic Liberties area near Dublin Castle, has been providing education since 1846. The school comprises eight mainstream classes and two special classes. In 2021, it transitioned to a co-educational format. Notably, the library was officially opened by former president Michael D. Higgins in 2018.

Aspirations for the Future

During their interaction with the new President, the students expressed aspirations to hold the presidential office themselves. AJ Stack enthusiastically stated, “It is so cool, and you have all the army around you.” Luna added, “I think it would be great because you’d get to do anything,” while Declan mused, “It’d be really cool to be the boss of Ireland.”

As the new president, Catherine Connolly has made a favorable impression on the youth of Ireland, who look forward to an engaging future under her leadership.