President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, visits Kilkenny

President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, visited Kilkenny earlier today for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions conference at Lyrath Hotel.

During an address to attendees, the President encouraged people to not only be trade union members, but to also be trade union activists.

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He welcomed the opportunity to address delegates and recalled joining a union at nineteen years of age in his first job.

The told those gathered of the solidarity he shared with fellow workers in the movement throughout his working life.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is the largest civil society organisation on the island of Ireland, representing and campaigning on behalf of some 800,000 working people.

There are currently 44 unions affiliated to Congress, north and south of the border.