THE committee of the Shannon Archaeological and Historical Society visited Áras an Uachtaráin last month, taking up an invitation from President Michael D Higgins.
They made the trip to Dublin on December 17 and to mark the visit, the chairman of the society, John O’Brien presented the President with a collection of editions of the society’s journal, The Other Clare and a specially commissioned silver tie pin featuring a Poulnabrone motif, which was designed and crafted by Gleeson Goldsmiths of Shannon.
The society’s outings organiser, Pat Costello was one of those who travelled and he said he felt the invite arose because of the President’s interest in local history.
“First and foremost, I think it was an interest in the journal, the work of the society and so forth. Many years ago, John O’Brien [the chairman] and myself would have met him and he has a big interest in County Clare. We had sent him copies of the journal to make him aware of what was happening around the place.”
He said they had been given a tour of the Áras and spent some time with Michael D.
“We were brought for a tour of the Áras by one of his aides. It was very pleasant and then we had tea and a chat with him afterwards. We talked about his travels, his interest in the society and we found we knew a lot of the same people,” he said.
Owen Ryan
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.