President Catherine Connolly to begin official visit to Northern Ireland

By Claudia Savage, Press Association

Irish President Catherine Connolly is to begin a three-day official visit to Northern Ireland.

It will be the first visit to the region during Connolly’s presidency.

In her inaugural speech, she said she looked forward to her “first official visit to the north” and referenced Article 3 of the Constitution, which sets out the firm wish of the Irish people for a united Ireland under consent.

The visit will commence with a meeting with Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle.

The President will later deliver an address at the Ulster University Campus in north Belfast at 1.30pm.

Over the course of the day, Ms Connolly will also visit a number of community initiatives in Belfast.

The President’s official visit to Northern Ireland will continue on Thursday and Friday with engagements in Co Derry.