Mrs. Clinton has been conferred with an honorary doctorate at the University College Galway and has also been conferred with the freedom of the city. Before an audience of about 1000 guests, University President Pat Fottrell paid tribute to her work as an attorney, academic and public servant. Describing her as an outstanding and caring woman who had championed the rights of children, women and families world-wide and who have shown a strong commitment to peace on this island of Ireland.
In her address Mrs Clinton spoke about the continuing quest for peace. She said only when people let go of the past and their old hatreds, hope is possible and their common future in peace offers greater promise than indifference and antipathy. She thanked the Irish people for the example the island was setting as the kind of commitment we would all be called on to meet. Mrs Clinton leaves Galway for Belfast to meet with a women’s group working for peace and reconciliation in the North.
Over 100 people protested at the main entrance of University College Galway as the conferring ceremony for The United States First Lady, got underway. Protesters included members of the arts and drama community in the city, the students of UCG and members of the Socialist Party.
A spokesperson for the No To War campaign, Sean Dunleavy, said that it was hypocritical for Mrs Clinton to be delivering a major address on peace at a time when her husband was orchestrating daily bomb attacks on Kosovo. The protest was not in place when Mrs Clinton's cavalcade arrived.
After her visit to Galway, Mrs Clinton travelled to Belfast for the start of a two day visit to the North. Her first engagement was at the launch of the cross community play scheme.
