President Connolly visits Trim on first full day of official engagements

Tenth President of Ireland Catherine Connolly arrived at Trim Family Resource Centre this afternoon on her first day of official engagements, the same community hub she toured last month during her campaign, where she spent time speaking with local families and volunteers about the challenges facing communities across rural Ireland.

During that visit, President-Elect Connolly met with staff and service users from a wide range of local groups, including family supports, youth services, and social inclusion programmes.

She spoke warmly at the time about the “strong sense of community” in Trim and praised the centre’s work in supporting families and newcomers to the area.

Today, newly inaugurated President Connolly greeted members of the public, workers, volunteers and students of Scoil Mhuire and St. Mary’s Convent Primary School.

School children cheered as the car arrived and as President Connolly went to greet them, high-fiving and stopping for photographs with them as she made her way to the entrance of the building.

Members of the public travelled from all over Meath to catch a glimpse of the new president, and their excitement was evident as President Connolly arrived.

Trim FRC Coordinator Justyna Doherty said the team was “honoured and privileged” to be chosen for President Connolly’s first engagement in office.

“We are very excited to welcome President Connolly to the Trim Family Resource Centre” Ms Doherty said.

“She visited us here during her campaign and was really interested in the work we do. She told us she would be back, but we didn’t think it would be this soon!”

President Connolly told the room that she had “promised to come back and is glad to be back" at the centre.

President Connolly spent over an hour listening to and talking with representatives from the different groups that use the resource centre, workers and volunteers, participants in the programmes offered by the centre, and local people from all over who use the different services Trim Family Resource Centre provides.

Ms Doherty said: “It’s a great occasion for all of us to get together and to share our stories.

This centre opened 25 years ago and the number of staff and volunteers who have come through the door is incredible. It’s in the heart of the community.

We are really focused on working with community development, and we have grown so much over the years. We strive to be community led.

The people who work here deserve sustainable and secure contracts so that they know they’re working here come January and that they have a secure job and can continue to work with us. It breaks my heart when I don’t know if we have the funding to do so. A centre like this also really needs a bigger premises.”

President Connolly responded by stating that “I hear what you’re telling me, although premises are a matter for government. I could see the work that you were doing here the last time I came.

"My message in my presidential campaign was to use your voice and you will have to use them more with the challenges that you face. I look forward to hearing all of your stories and I will be back here again.

"It is lovely to see what you and all of the other centres around the country are doing.

"As President of Ireland, I will certainly use my voice to value the work you all are doing here. It is invaluable work and it should be built into every economy. Any way I can help in my role as president, I will certainly do that.”

Amongst some of those who joined this afternoon were members from Trim Women’s Shed, Trim Men’s Shed and volunteers from Walk and Talk Counselling and Therapy services.

From mothers, to school kids, to volunteers and teachers, every person who courageously shared their story this afternoon was warmly applauded by President Connolly.

Those who have participated in programmes ran by Trim Family Resource Centre such as the community food bank, counselling services and children's supports spoke and expressed how grateful they are to have such an important resource in their community.

Those who worked and volunteer at the centre spoke of how grateful they are for their jobs and roles at the centre, and how much they enjoy giving back to the community.