The President, Mrs McAleese, and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, have received honorary life memberships of Queen's University GAA Club in Belfast. During a two-day visit to the North over the weekend, the President opened a GAA exhibition entitled "Kings of Queen's", aimed at celebrating the university club's success over the past 68 years.
The event was attended by the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, who praised Queen's GAA Club for its "important contribution to the sporting life of the university".
Dr Mowlam added: "The items on display give us a glimpse of some of those things which were best about the past and will bring back fond memories for many."
In her speech, the President recalled her student days at Queen's during which she had been one of the club's "most vocal supporters".
Referring to her husband, a keen footballer, she said: "Many students, myself included, found in Gaelic football and in this club a common identity, a place to feel at home, among friends and the place I had to frequent if I wanted to find Martin."
The President described the bestowal of honorary life membership as a "personal pleasure and honour" for both her husband and herself.
She went on to say that up to this day, she could not help feeling "a glow of pride and a tinge of nostalgia" whenever she heard the club's name mentioned.
Mr John Devaney, the chairman of Queen's GFC said he felt "greatly honoured" by the President's visit.
Mr Gerard O'Hare, a Newry developer and the event's sponsor, described the President as a "wonderful ambassador".