President Michael D Higgins has concluded his three-day official visit to Liverpool and Manchester.
This morning, the President addressed a business breakfast held by Enterprise Ireland, where he spoke of the importance of Britain as the main trading partner for Ireland.
He then visited the new £6m Irish World Heritage site in Cheetham Hill in Manchester, which is nearing completion.
Its chairman, Michael Forde, greeted Mr Higgins and brought him on a tour of the facility, which when finished will eventually house a museum, cultural centre and social areas.
The centre was built using a number of Irish firms.
Speaking afterwards, the President said he was pleased with the way the three-day visit went.
He said it was an opportunity to reach out to the diaspora, and this was something he wanted to continue doing during his presidency.
