Dr. Mary Robinson with Karen Smyth, ATU’s marketing officer for campaigns and creatives, recreating a photo 33 years apart. Photo: Mike Shaughnessy

Mayo ceremony offers chance to recreate a memorable photo – 33 years on!

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Karen Smyth, ATU’s marketing officer for campaigns and creatives, recently recreated a photograph with Dr. Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first female president, marking a memorable visit to Áras an Uachtaráin on February 1, 1991.

At the time, Karen was a student at Loreto College, Mullingar, representing Westmeath as part of a group of 32 young people, one from each county in Ireland, invited to Áras an Uachtaráin by President Robinson.

During the visit, Karen presented President Robinson with a St. Brigid’s Peace Cross and a rug made by students of Loreto Convent, intended as a gift for Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, during her scheduled visit the following week.

Over 30 years on, Karen had the opportunity to meet Dr. Robinson for a second time last week and presented her again with the St. Brigid's Cross ahead of her Honorary Doctorate ceremony at Atlantic Technological University in Castlebar.

The original clipping from the Irish Press, published in February 1991.
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