Irish President Mary McAleese to visit Perth today

31/8/98

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese will arrive in Perth later today as part of their Australian tour.

Premier Richard Court said that Perth was the initial destination on President McAleese's first overseas visit since she was elected President of Ireland in November, 1997.

"Western Australia's Irish connections go back to the days of the first British settlement, so I am sure President McAleese will be given a warm welcome," Mr Court said.

"Irish immigrants and their descendants have had a profound influence on the development of the State, particularly in education, medicine and law."

Mr Court said that President McAleese would arrive this afternoon and would call on the Governor at Government House.

In the evening she would be the guest of honour at a reception hosted by the Premier at Kings Park and would then visit the Irish Club.

On Tuesday morning she would address an Irish Australian Business Association breakfast at the Sheraton Hotel, visit the Celtic Club, and go to Murdoch University where she would formally launch the Centre for Irish Studies.

Later in the morning she would visit Fremantle Prison and then attend a private lunch and river cruise before leaving Perth late in the afternoon to continue her Australian tour which would take in Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane.

Mr Court said that President McAleese had been prominent in legal and academic circles in both Ireland and Northern Ireland before becoming President of Ireland.

Born and educated in Belfast, she obtained a law degree from The Queen's University of Belfast and then in 1975, at the remarkable age of 24, was appointed Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology in Trinity College, Dublin.

She held the position until 1979 and then spent three years as a current affairs journalist and presenter on Irish National Television, before returning to her professorship from 1981 to 1987.

In 1987 she was appointed director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at The Queen's University in Belfast and held the post until she became president of Ireland in 1997. She was also pro vice chancellor of the university from 1994 to 1997.

President McAleese held many other appointments in organisations devoted to social justice issues in Belfast and Dublin.

She and Dr Martin McAleese married in 1976 and have three children.

Shortly after their arrival in Perth the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese (left) met with Premier Richard Court and his wife Mrs Jo Court.

Media contact: Casey Cahill (08) 9222 9475