IT WAS A whistlestop tour for President Catherine Connolly today around Belfast City as she paid her first official visit to Northern Ireland since taking up office in November.

Connolly will spend three days in the region, with engagements planned in Derry tomorrow and on Friday.

Today, Connolly began with a visit to Stormont, where she met with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

The welcome from both women appeared warm, but beneath the surface, there was an awkwardness from Little-Pengelly, who had snubbed Connolly’s inauguration ceremony only a few short months ago.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, watches as President Catherine Connolly and First Minister Michelle O'Neill greet each other with a hug at Stormont Castle today. Press Association Press Association

The official reason provided by Little-Pengelly, a DUP politician, was that she had a diary clash and had to attend “a number of other commitments in Belfast and Windsor” to mark Remembrance Day.

But her decision was also made against a backdrop of pressure from loyalists, many of whom view Connolly as a ‘Sinn Féin president’ given the party’s backing of her during the election.

That awkwardness aside, Connolly spoke warmly of her 45-minute meeting with O’Neill and Little-Pengelly today, describing it as “joyful and interesting and forward-looking”.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, President Catherine Connolly and First Minister Michelle ONeill at Stormont Castle today. Press Association Press Association

We understand that during the meeting, the three discussed the President’s programme for the next two days; violence against women and girls; and the importance of the diversity of languages, music and cultures on the island.

After her meeting with the Stormont leaders, Connolly visited Queen’s University, where she met with basketball players from the cross-community charity PeacePlayers.

While there, she once again showed off her sporting skills, scoring not one but two hoops (one of which was done while facing backwards).

Notably, though, while Áras staff were keen to share footage of the moment, there were no court-side seats for the media.

While journalists were invited to film President Connolly’s arrival at Stormont along with a speech at Ulster University this afternoon, no other access to the President was permitted, and only limited information about her engagements was provided ahead of time.

Despite requests from The Journal, President Connolly did not speak to journalists today in Belfast.

Instead, we were informed that her speech at Ulster University would represent her public comments for the visit.

The approach taken by Connolly to the media comes in stark contrast to that of her predecessor Michael D Higgins, who would frequently take questions from journalists while out on official engagements and often would not leave until journalists were out of questions.

By comparison, since taking office in November, Connolly has had a policy of not speaking to journalists while at events.

The approach makes it difficult to gauge Connolly’s thinking, and for now, it is unclear whether this is the way things are going to be for seven years or if instead the President is simply giving herself some time to get used to the role.

It won’t come as a surprise that, as a media outlet, we’re hoping it might be the latter.

Indeed, opening her speech this afternoon at Ulster University, President Connolly said she was “still coming to terms” with her new position.

Her speech today focused on peace and touched on some of the themes she built her presidential candidacy on as she lamented how the world is “unfortunately… ever more consumed with war and militarism”.

President Connolly speaking at Ulster University Campus in Belfast, on day one of her visit to Northern Ireland. Press Association Press Association

In this context, she said Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement represent a “beacon of light” that “conflict can be resolved and reconciliation fostered”.

“Northern Ireland’s lesson is increasingly important and increasingly significant. And it is a lesson that we should all tell the world, that peace is normal and that war is not normal and that peace is possible,” she said.

Connolly stressed that, as President, she gives an “absolute commitment” that through her work she will ensure that “all voices from all backgrounds are heard, regardless of gender, age, belief, ethnicity or nationality”.

While reaffirming her ambition of a united Ireland, she also acknowledged that across the island of Ireland there are “different aspirations for the future”, and an “unfinished story”.

Ahead of her address at Ulster University, Connolly toured the campus and listened to some musicians who will be participating in the Fleadh Cheoil, which will be held in Belfast later this year.

The former barrister also paid a visit to law students, who were participating in mock trials as part of their studies.

After delivering her speech, Connolly was quickly whisked from the building to her next engagement – a visit to Black Mountain Shared Space, a community centre in West Belfast.

Following her visit to the community centre, the President visited Belfast’s oldest library, Linen Hall Library. 

She will close out her first day with a reception tonight for women in community leadership.

Connolly appears to run a tight ship. More than one press officer remarked today on her punctuality, with the President running ahead of schedule for a number of her engagements.

Plenty of time to speak to reporters in the future so.