By Seán McCarroll
TWO local schools met President Catherine Connolly on Friday, February 6, 2026, during her recent visit to Derry.
The meeting was a part of the ‘PeacePlus Programme’ which is designed to encourage cross-border relations and support peace in both the North and the surrounding counties.
Two local schools from Raphoe took part in this programme, both Deele College as well as Royal and Prior.
The former Transition Year students from Deele College, Adam Doran, Freya Hamilton and Lilian Vambeck all had very positive things to say about the President and according to all of them she is “a very lovely woman” and “very down to earth”.
Whenever she spoke to them, she mentioned the Creeslough tragedy and her experience in speaking to the families and how sad it was.
President Connolly also showed her enthusiasm for understanding the youth’s point of view, as she sat down with them, she said: “My ears are here but my mouth is not.”
Both the students and teachers were impressed with President Connolly.
Deele College teacher, Mr Kelvin Gallagher said: “An Utachtarán Catherine Connolly made the conscious effort at this event to listen rather than give any sort of speech so I suppose her actions spoke volumes. Her openness to listen made a great impression.”
“We really appreciated that she was very considerate to the perspectives of young people,” Lilian Vambeck added.
It’s great to see that in the President’s first visit to the North she is also paying attention to the people of Donegal and making sure the youth is included in the conversation.
