State visit marks a flourishing together
President Michael D Higgins, in completing the first State visit to Britain to well-deserved acclamation has surpassed the high expectations set for this historic four-day trip. He has raised Ireland’s profile in the minds of British people, and his visit gave sectors of industry (food, fashion and tourism) a brief opportunity to advertise their presence to a market of 64 million people.
This State visit has served both to recognise the huge contribution the Irish in Britain have made to the development of the country of their adoption; and also to acknowledge what Ireland has gained from its often turbulent relationship with the UK.