President of Ireland visits Down Cathedral
Dean Henry Blair had the privilege of welcoming President Catherine Connolly to Down Cathedral on Tuesday, 29 September 2026.
President Connolly is visiting all 32 counties of Ireland in the first year of her presidency and what better place to represent County Down than the County Town where she visited The Saint Patrick Centre and the cathedral on the hill where Saint Patrick is buried.
Arriving at the cathedral from The Saint Patrick Centre, the President met the Dean’s wife Helen, Revd Peter and Diane Booth, Mr Brian Poxon (Dean’s Cathedral Warden), Mrs Jennifer Stitt, (People’s Cathedral Warden), Mr Michael McCracken, (Director of Music), Mrs Shirley Lennon (Cathedral Volunteer) and Ms Sonia Geddis (Tourism Manager).
The Dean and Sonia showed the president and her husband Brian around the cathedral while Michael provided some background music on the organ. The visit was short and there was only time for a brief summary of the history of the cathedral and the President said she would have to return to hear it in full.
The visit concluded with a visit to St Patrick’s grave, and then it was time for her to go to her next engagement.
We’re grateful to President Connolly for taking the time to visit us and wish her well for the rest of her tour.
With thanks to Dean Henry Blair
Pictured: Dean Blair, President Connolly, Brian McEnery and Sonia Geddis