I realised I was sat next to the Irish President when she sent back her sandwich for being too spicy. I had just climbed Errigal, the tallest mountain in Donegal, on a blustery day, and had stopped at a cafe nearby in the Gaeltacht, the part of Donegal where the Irish language is predominant. It was clear that the small group next to us had done the same – wearing leggings, trainers and zip-up workout gear – and my boyfriend could understand their discussion about how windy the mountain had been. Then, as it became clear a chicken wrap was being sent back – ‘I’m so sorry’ in Gaeilge – I looked up and realised that the apologetically polite voice came from Catherine Connolly. Locals waited for her to finish with her friends before approaching, and it was apparent she only had one handler with her. I looked around at the relatively calm scene and couldn’t help but think it was all the more remarkable that one week later this unassuming head of the Irish state would be meeting the leader of the free world.
There will be many more aides present when President Connolly meets President Trump today. While this is not a state visit, and it is expected to be quick, it remains to be seen how awkward this encounter could be. Connolly, a former barrister, has called Trump a ‘bully’ and previously said that, with his election, ‘international law has gone out the window’. Trump meanwhile hasn’t really registered the Irish President at all. When her criticism was repeated to him earlier this year, he showed no real awareness of Connolly, misgendering her as he spoke. This morning, however, he said that a united Ireland would be ‘a great thing’.
