Irish President Catherine Connolly made the The Donkey Sanctuary’s stand at Ireland’s National Ploughing Championships her first port of call when she visited the event earlier this month.
President Connolly is well-known for her support of animal welfare and recalled memories of donkeys from her childhood when she spoke with the team on the stand. She also spoke about the important role donkeys have played in rural communities.
During her visit, the President was presented with a brass statuette of a donkey and foal and was invited to visit The Donkey Sanctuary’s site in Liscarroll next year as part of the charity’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
“It was a real honour to welcome President Connolly to our stand. Her genuine warmth and affection for donkeys was clear to see, and it was wonderful to hear her share memories of growing up with them in Ireland,” said welfare office supervisor Sinéad Fitzgerald.
“We were especially proud to showcase our newly branded stand and talk about the work being done to improve donkey welfare across the country.”
Largest outdoor agricultural exhibition
The National Ploughing Championships are Europe’s largest outdoor agricultural exhibition with 243,000 agricultural professionals, farming families and animal enthusiasts attending over the three days.
During the event the charity’s welfare team shared its work, offered practical advice on responsible rehoming and care, and built relationships with the farming community.
“President Connolly has a long-standing commitment to animal welfare, making her a great ally for donkeys and the people who care for them,” said Country Manager Ireland Johanne Nevin.
“It was a pleasure to tell her about our future plans in Ireland and to invite her to join our 40th year celebrations next year. We greatly appreciate her interest in our work and her support for improving the lives of donkeys across Ireland.”
Image © The Donkey Sanctuary.
