Room 12 visited Áras an Uachtaráin on Tuesday 27th 2024.
The Office of the President rolled out the red carpet for us. Thug siad milseoga and deochanna dúinn, before beginning a tour of their visitor section. As we watched a video on the history of the house, the sergeant on duty came to tell us the President had a gap in his day and had requested to meet us!
Jaws dropped open!
Bhrostaigh na buachaillí to the State reception room where President Higgins was formally introduced.
He spoke to the boys for about 10 minutes! He spoke in English and as Gaeilge about many topics; Síoda (a mhadra), World hunger, beginning secondary school, subject choices, League of Ireland soccer, meeting world leaders and local volunteers and activists.
It was such a huge honour and completely unexpected and unplanned.
We were thrilled to have met an Uachtarán, who insisted the boys have no homework that night....by Order of the President :) His Aide de Camp told us afterwards that Mr Higgins was highly impressed with our Boscos Boys.
After that we still had to tour of the house - we were so lucky. The boys sat at the table in the State Dining Room, which had been the first Cabinet table of any Irish government. Countless Irish people of historical importance have sat at the same table.
We would highly recommend the free tours to the Áras that run most Saturdays from the Visitors Centre in the Park. The boys were also so thankful to our secretary Therese who accompanied us on this trip.
