ÁRAS TRIP - pics & report

Aesop ceiling, Council of State Room, Áras an Uachtaráin

Well, the trip to the Áras to meet President Higgins was very enjoyable and a tad surreal. I met the bus at Kinnegad and we all travelled up to the Park from there. It was a gorgeous day and I sat beside an English teacher from Edenderry who also writes, and we had great chats about Plath and Kinsella, kids and education and all sorts.

Poet Jean O'Brien outside the Áras

Entrance hallway, Áras an Uachtaráin

The Áras is run like clockwork. Naturally the President has a hectic schedule. We were on time and enjoyed a leisurely walk up to the house, taking in the fountains and trees in the stunning grounds - it was a gorgeous spring morning. We were met in the hallway by two members of staff (army men) and one of them, John, was our guide. Everywhere, from the entrance hall to the basement loos, is packed with gorgeous artworks, ancient and modern.

Candelabra, hallway

We were shown into the State Reception room and we formed a large circle around the room (there were fifty in the group between student poets, librarians, teachers and writers). Soon President Higgins was announced and he welcomed us and said a few words about the importance of libraries and bringing a love of poetry to young people.

President Higgins with Mary Reynolds and Martina Barry

Then he came around the circle and chatted to each of us and shook our hands. It was funny how nervous I felt. I read with Michael D. Higgins many years ago in Galway library but it felt very different meeting him as President of the country.

Mary Reynolds, who lead our group, went around with him and introduced each of us. He asked who had published The Juno Charm and when I said Salmon he asked if Jessie was still up on the cliffs in Clare. I said she was, with the dogs, and he laughed and told me to send her his best wishes. We were to present our books at the end but some people slipped gifts to him as we went around so that got a bit messed up. In the end, Mary took copies of our books to give to him via his staff.

We had a photographer with us so I will get my pic of me with the President anon. I hope I don't look crazed. I couldn't stop smiling :)

Ciarán O'Hanlon, reciting his winning poem

The two young students who won in the creative writing section and the recitation section then recited their poems for the President. They are Ciarán O'Hanlon from Ballymahon Convent and Avril Holton from Edenderry. They did brilliantly.

Avril Holton, reciting Goldsmith

We had group pics with the President, then - each county getting one picture with him.

Westmeath Group

Then we had the tea! On lovely white china with a navy and gold trim, which are the Presidential colours. There were shamrock biscuits and green cake; little iced buns and marble cake. Naturally, in the course of research, I sampled several items and am happy to report that they were gorgeous: homemade and tasty. The President mingled, cup of coffee in hand, but all too soon he has to leave to deal with other duties.

Áras biccies

Áras cake

Áras buns

After the President left, the very gregarious John gave us a tour of the rooms, with all sorts of interesting history and gossip thrown in.

The tour

We went into the President's Room which holds portraits of all the Irish presidents to date. They will have to shuffle the portraits along soon to let Michael D.'s picture in.

President Mary Robinson, portrait by Basil Blackshaw

President Mary McAleese, portrait by Joe Dunne (I think - our guide wasn't sure who the artist was)

Mirror, Council of State Room

From there we went to the Council of State Room and then through to the State Drawing Room, which has a lovely cosy feel to it, with it's silk lined walls and beautiful furniture.

Me on the Louis IV sofa

Steinway in the State Drawing Room

There's a Steinway in there and one of the students played a tune on the piano for us. By then our tour was closing and we had to bundle outside for group photos and farewells to our guide John.

Poet Noel Monahan tripping down the Francini Corridor

It was a great day and a great privilege to be there and to meet our Poet President, who is a lovely, decent man. Going to the Áras yesterday is just one of the many privileges that writing brings to my life and for which I am always grateful.

There's a virtual tour of the Áras here.