YESTERDAY was a particularly special day for three Irish school children chosen to ring a peace bell as US president Barack Obama planted a tree in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin.
Margaret McDonagh, Colm Dunne and Onyedika Ukachukwu rang the bell, which was erected to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast Agreement, as Mr Obama shovelled soil over an Irish oak next to where Queen Elizabeth had planted a tree last week.
“You did an outstanding job,” Mr Obama told the three beaming youngsters. “Excellent.”
Onyedika, aged eight, is the Irish-born daughter of Nigerian parents and attends Scoil Mhuire in Blakestown, west Dublin. Nine-year-old Colm, who is visually impaired, attends Scoil Bhríde in Paulstown, Co Kilkenny. The eldest of the trio Margaret, aged 10, is a member of the Travelling community and a pupil at St Francis of Assisi Senior School in Priorswood, north Dublin.
Mr Obama, his wife Michelle, Mrs McAleese and her husband Martin, chatted with the children before the group posed for photographs.
“Everyone say cheese – that’s what we do in the United States. We say cheese,” Mr Obama said. “It’s wonderful to see you all.