I wasn’t the only one excited to be part of the press group accompanying Michael D Higgins on his state visit. My uncle informed me he was “going to get great mileage out of this”, while my Dad pontificated that the whole thing was pointless unless there was going to be a picture of myself and Kate Middleton in this very paper.

All the while I was taking my impending duties as the Irish Farmers Journal’s royal correspondent very seriously, as I planned a series of plots to seduce Harry.

Cressida who?

Suffice it to say, I didn’t meet Harry. And Kate, unfortunately, was too busy being stylish in New Zealand.

It’s hard to pick a highlight from the trip. 5,000 people in the Royal Albert Hall turning around to cheer Michael D while singing The Auld Triangle was very special.

As was lurking behind the Dean of Westminster Abbey who, visibly excited to be part of such an event, stood waiting at the giant doors for Michael D’s arrival. Suddenly, we could see police motorbikes spinning in, in a blue, white and yellow whizz, with the President’s maroon Bentley (borrowed from the Queen) just behind. But maybe it was watching Charles and Camilla sail by in their carriage, exchanging pleasantries with their co-passengers Eamon Gilmore and his wife Carol Hanney, who looked absolutely chuffed with themselves.

The flags flapping on Windsor Castle in the distance were a lovely welcome to the historic town on the first morning. A big red-carpeted stage adorned with massive bouquets awaited the arrival of monarch and president alike, and as we took our positions on stand one, we noticed that security was subtle. We toyed with the notion that the guys on the roof opposite us were undercover snipers. But no, they were just men with binoculars.

At 11.40am, a sovereign’s escort of Household Cavalry set off, comprised of men in black trousers with two red stripes running down the side and big red coats adorned with gold buttons and gold tresses.

And there were horses, lots of horses. The whole thing was truly spectacular.

And the strangest part was hearing Amhrán na bhFiann being played amidst all this pomp.

Science

The next morning, the President visited the Royal Society, a self-governing fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists, which lies just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus.

When the President entered, preceded by his entourage (which included his secretary general Adrian O’Neill, his press secretary Wally Young, chief of protocol Orla O’Hanrahan as well as his aide de camp) the room hushed into silence.

By the end of the President’s speech, I had learned a lot I never knew about Irish science.

Irish man John Tyndall explained why the sky is blue while John Lighton Synge pioneered the study of black holes. It was an Irish scientist, George Johnstone Stoney, who coined the term electron. And another Irish man, Ernest Walton, was one half of a team that artificially “split the atom” in 1932.

In fact, one of the founding figures of the Royal Society in the mid-1600s was Robert Boyle, who is considered a founder of modern chemistry.

Dressing Up

Lunch at the Irish embassy was that afternoon, where Sabina Higgins focused on the theme of Irish fashion and design.

This event was full of many stylish and eclectically-dressed people – the who’s who of Irish fashion in London, such as Paul Costelloe (who was wearing white Converse with a black suit), as well as a young Irish designer who has just been signed up for a Topshop collection.

“It’s so lovely we can all be in the one room at the same time,” Louise Kennedy told Irish Country Living.

“We don’t often get a chance to sit back and chat.”

On Sabina’s fashion choices, Dermott Rowan, husband and business partner of Orla Kiely, noted: “I thought she looked fantastic and I think she’s done us proud. The person dressing her is doing a great job.”

According to many of the designers we spoke to, the “hottest names” in London fashion are Irish.

Irish stylist Darren Kennedy now spends 70% of his time in the UK and he told Irish Country Living: “I met Mrs Higgins on Saturday at the IFTAs and she loved the tweed in my suit. She said she must get one like it for the President,” he laughed.

Celebration

The Ceiliúradh took place on a bright and warm Thursday evening in London. People still in suits, having rushed straight from work, were meeting, greeting and swapping tickets. Inside it was the tale of two Irish. Half the crowd was comprised of the older Irish who came to London in much harder times – while the other half were slick, young professionals.

The only person missing at the Ceiliúradh was Bono.

Yet despite all the joy, there was a sense of sadness too. Presenter Dermot O’Leary, who shot to fame on the X Factor, and whose parents are both Irish, seemed very invested in the whole thing. Looking out at the crowd, he seemed wistful, as if mourning the hard times of his own parents and other Irish people he knew.

He just got it.

The next day, proceedings moved to Stratford-upon-Avon, where the famous tavern scene from Henry IV Part One was performed by the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). This was followed by a speech from President Higgins, during which he had the entire cast charmed. Heads cocked to one side as they lapped it up, entranced by our Gaelic tongue, as Michael D shared a cúpla focal.

Gregory Doran, artistic director of the RSC, told Irish Country Living he was particularly touched by the President’s visit given that he has Irish roots himself, via his grandparents who hail from Cork.

The whole visit was a roaring success. If the British demonstrated they excel at pageantry and pomp, we certainly matched them with our world-class melodies at the Royal Albert Hall.

It was incredibly impressive that, although in their 70s, Michael D and Sabina showed no signs of strain during a schedule which would have had this 25-year-old breaking out in a sweat. Rather, they both seemed delighted and fulfilled by their visit. They seemed as proud to represent us, as we were of them, at a state visit that won’t be forgotten for a long time.

For more articles on Irish Country’s Living’s experience of the state visit, check out our blog