Irish President Michael Higgins visits Hampstead to pay tribute to suffragette Eva Gore-Booth
Irish President Michael Higgins visits Hampstead. (L to R). General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress Frances O'Grady, Camden Councillor Pat Callaghan, Vicar of Hampstead Parish Church Jeremy Fletcher, Mayor of Camden Richard Cotton, Sabina Coyne, Irish President Michael Higgins and Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq - Credit: Irish Embassy
The President of Ireland, Michael Higgins, paid a special visit to Hampstead on Friday to visit the grave of famous Irish suffragette Eva Gore-Booth.
Miss Gore-Booth, who died in 1926, was a suffragette and Labour activist who was born in Sligo, Ireland. She was the sister of the first woman elected to Parliament, Countess Markievicz.
President Higgins visited the grave, at Hampstead Parish Church, along with his wife Sabina Coyne, Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq, Trades Union Congress General Secretary Frances O’Grady, Camden councillor Pat Callaghan, and Camden Mayor Richard Cotton.
Vicar of Hampstead Parish Church, Jeremy Fletcher also attended.
During the visit, Mr Higgins laid a wreath on the grave in memory of Miss Gore-Booth.
His visit to Hampstead was part of a two-day stay in London. This also included attending an event celebrating the achievements of women in Ireland and Great Britain.
In October 2016, he gave a speech about the life of Miss Gore-Booth, and reflected on her contribution to the fight for Irish freedom.
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Cllr Cotton said: “The President is a great fan of Miss Gore-Booth, and it was marvellous to welcome him to Hampstead.
“It was particularly nice for me as I have been to Miss Gore-Booth’s house in Sligo.”
Mr Higgins is Ireland’s 9th president, and has held the position since 2011.
