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Please be advised that the Embassy of Ireland, Portugal website has moved and this page is no longer being updated. The Embassy website is now available at Ireland.ie/lisbon.

Embassy of Ireland, Portugal

State Visit of Michael D. Higgins to Portugal

President Michael D. Higgins made a State Visit to Portugal from the 8th to the 12th December 2015, at the invitation of the President of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva. The President was accompanied by Sabina Higgins. This is the first State Visit to Portugal since the visit of President McAleese in 2002.

On Wednesday, 9th December, the President laid a wreath at the tomb of poet Luís de Camões, at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, before proceeding to an Official Welcome Ceremony at the Belém Palace where the President and Sabina Higgins were formally received by President Cavaco Silva and his wife, Doutora Maria Cavaco Silva.

‌President Higgins lays a wreath at the tomb of Camões in the Mosteiro Jeronimos

President Higgins and President Cavaco Silva inspect the guard at the Presidential Palace in Belém

The President then met with Portugal’s Prime Minister, António Luís Santos da Costa.

President Higgins with Prime Minister Costa

The President and Sabina Higgins visited Lisbon’s City Hall that afternoon, where they were welcomed by the Mayor, who will presented the President with the keys of the city.

‌President Higgins receives the Keys to Lisbon from the Mayor of Lisbon, Fernando Medina

The President and Sabina Higgins were guests of honour that evening at a State Dinner hosted by President Cavaco Silva and Doutora Maria Cavaco Silva.

‌State banquet in honour of President Higgins

On Thursday, 10th December, the President and Sabina Higgins visited the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), before being guests of honour at a business lunch hosted by the Embassy of Ireland in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and IDA Ireland.

President Higgins was then welcomed to Portugal’s Parliament, the Assembly of the Republic. The President and Sabina Higgins will also visited the Convent of Bom Sucesso, home to Irish Dominican Sisters for close to four hundred years.

President Higgins visit the Assemblia da Republica

That evening, the President and Sabina Higgins will welcomed President Cavaco Silva and Maria Cavaco Silva as their guests of honour to a performance of Irish poetry and music presented by Culture Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

President Higgins is greeted by Sr. Agnes at the Irish Dominican convent of Bom Sucesso

President Higgins and Sabina Higgins view the Church at Bom Sucesso

On Friday, 11th December, the President and Sabina Higgins visited Porto, the second largest city in Portugal where their programme included an official welcome ceremony and lunch hosted by Porto’s Mayor, Rui Moreira.

President Higgins signs the visitor’s book at the Câmara Municipal in Porto

They visited CEiiA, a Portuguese not-for-profit engaged in innovation and research in the transport sector, and met there with CEiiA and Enterprise Ireland client companies engaged in a networking event. That afternoon, the President and Sabina Higgins visited Porto’s historic centre which has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

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