Cavanmen storm Windsor Castle

President Michael D Higgins made history on Tuesday (April 8) with a first State visit to Britain by an Irish President and there was a healthy Cavan connection attending the occasion.
Among the local contingent in London is GAA president-elect and Drumgooon man Aogán O Fearghail, who will be attending some of the ceremonies during the State visit and Council of State member Ruairi McKiernan from neighbouring Cootehill.
On Tuesday afternoon Mr O Fearghail spoke to The Anglo-Celt from London of the goings on:
“Frances [Aogan’s wife] and I arrived yesterday, we are representing the GAA at various events that are taking place throughout the week. We’re delighted that the GAA has been given such a prominent role in the State visit. We will be meeting with Foreign Affairs in the afternoon. We have an event with the Embassy in the Albert Hall on Thursday, we have an event in Windsor Castle with members from our own province in Ulster and from all over Ireland. We will also be attending the main event, which is the banquet, which takes place tonight in Windsor Castle.”
Aogán continued: “It’s nice that we are now as a nation seen to be on an equal footing with Britain. I’ve seen more tricolours flying on Main Street, Windsor, than I’ve ever seen in Crossmaglen,” he joked. “To see them side by side and to see our President Michael D Higgins’ full treatment as an equal nation is wonderful and it’s wonderful to see that the GAA is being recognised as a partner group with the presidential visit.”
As part of the visit President Higgins will hear from a gathering of young people from across Ireland and the UK at London City Hall yesterday (Wednesday, April 9). Mr McKiernan is a member of the President’s advisory body, The Council of State, and a board member of Gaisce (The President’s Awards) and is one of the organisers of 'Taking Charge of Change together’, which began this morning.
The event promotes collaborations and leadership efforts of young people in society in the Joint Award Initiative.
“Many young people are having a tough time in terms of mental health pressures, unemployment and emigration. It’s important that we listen to them, involve them and support them. Wednesday’s event is part of this and it is also part of continuing to build peace and cooperation with our nearest neighbour and indeed with our friends north of the border,” said Mr McKiernan.