President Michael D. Higgins received Almuthna Loulah, a university lecturer from Deir Azzor in Syria, now living as a refugee in Ballaghaderreen.
Since arriving in Ireland, Almuthna has taken up violin making, and he presented his first violin to the President, as a gesture of thanks to the people of Ireland.
Inside the violin, he etched all the names of the people who helped him make the violin, get the tools, find the inspiration and the support he needed.
Almuthna was accompanied by his brother Muhammad, Amina Ramadan, Debbie Beirne, Ballaghadereen reception centre manager Jacqueline Mullen, English teacher Michael Geraghty and musician Maurice Lennon.
