A former Loreto College, Mullingar student has spoken of the honour in being able to recreate a photograph with Ireland’s first female President 33 years after she met her for the first time.
Karen Smyth first met Mary Robinson during a memorable visit to Áras an Uachtaráin in February 1991, and was able to meet Mrs Robinson, who was receiving an honorary doctorate, again at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Castlebar, on Monday, 2 December.
HISTORIC
During the first visit, Karen presented President Robinson with a St Brigid’s Peace Cross and a rug made by students of Loreto College, Mullingar intended as a gift for Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, during her scheduled visit the following week.
Recalling the 1991 meeting, Karen told Topic: “My teacher asked the class who could make a St Brigid’s Cross and I was the only one to put up my hand. As a result, I got to go to Áras an Uachtaráin and present the cross to Mary Robinson.
“I was one of 32 young people to present a cross to her at Áras an Uachtaráin. She had only been inaugurated in December 1990, and we went up on 1 February, 1991. We were the first group of young people who went to Áras an Uachtaráin. That was quite historic.
“Áras an Uachtaráin used to be somewhere where not a lot of people got access to but she really opened it up.
“I remember being amazed that we had a female President because when I was growing up, we only ever had an elderly male in the office. To have, first of all, our first female president and for young people like myself to be involved to the Áras an Uachtaráin was unbelievable. I remember staying in Dublin the night before and I was asked to do a speech which I had prepared that night. I delivered it the next day and it was filmed for the news.”
When asked about how she was able to recreate the picture taken in 1991, Karen said: “The picture was something I had kept in a tin box at my home house in Mullingar for 33 years. My parents left Mullingar three years ago and emptied out the house. I found the box with the clippings. They are yellowed, turned up at the corners, but they are one of the only things i kept at my childhood home.
“I work at ATU, who were going to award Mary Robinson an honorary doctorate, and because my parents had moved so recently, I remembered that photograph. I was offered the opportunity to meet Mary Robinson a second time. I took it upon myself to find a St Brigid’s Cross, which is very hard to do out of season. I was able to present a St Brigid’s Cross to her on the day.”
INTIMATE
Describing her reunion with Mrs Robinson, Karen commented: “This time, it actually felt more intimate because 33 years ago, I was one of a group of 32 people. This time, I sat at a table with her and her brother, and was able to to chat to her about my memories and the press clippings of the day. We spoke a little about St Brigid. It was so intimate and it meant a huge deal to me to be able to see her again.
“We took the photograph and then she had to go about her business. She had to accept the honorary doctorate and she made an incredible speech. She is a legend in our time. What she has gone on to achieve on a world stage is breathtaking.”
