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President and Sabina Higgins to visit London

Date: Thu 28th Apr, 2016 | 08:02

President Michael D. Higgins, accompanied by his wife Sabina, will travel to London this week to participate in the Embassy of Ireland’s 2016 commemoration programme.

The first engagement in the President’s programme will take place on Friday 29 April, with a visit to the Archive of the Irish in Britain at the Irish Studies Centre in London Metropolitan University, to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Centre. Founded in 1984, the Archive of the Irish in Britain details the history of the Irish in Britain from the late nineteenth century to the present day.

Following the tour of the Archive of the Irish, President Michael D. Higgins and Sabina Higgins will attend a reception hosted by Ambassador Mulhall in honour of the President’s visit.

Finally, the President and Sabina will attend the ‘Imagining Ireland’ concert at the Royal Festival Hall. ‘Imagining Ireland’ is a musical conversation between Ireland and Britain, through the songs and music of the past hundred years. 

Produced by the National Concert Hall in Dublin in association with Serious Music in London, this concert is a response for London to the ‘Imagining Home’ series of concerts at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. The concert will showcase Ireland’s musical talent across a range of genres, from classical to folk to contemporary. Artists confirmed to take part include Paul Brady, James Vincent McMorrow, Camille O’Sullivan and Kevin Rowland and Sean Read of Dexys. The Master of Ceremonies for the concert will be John Kelly.

The President and Sabina will return to Ireland the following day, Saturday 30 April.