Deputy Frank Feighan has welcomed confirmation that the McAleese collection will go on public display next April in King House.
The display comprises gifts presented by Heads of State to Mary McAleese during her Presidency.
“I’m delighted that my suggestion some years back to use King House a venue for the McAleese collection will now materialise in April 2015.
“My preliminary discussions with the Taoiseach about the idea developed into productive discussions between Roscommon County Council and the Office of Public Works about the loan of the gift collection to the county council.
“Roscommon County Council has now informed me that the collection will officially go on public display to coincide with the opening of King House for the new 2015 season.
“The collection of gifts is currently stored at Aras an Uachtarain and arrangements are being made to insure the collection before they are transported to County Roscommon.
“This collection contains more than 60 gifts presented to Mary McAleese during her 14 years as President of Ireland. Many of the items were presented by Heads of State from around the world, including Barack Obama and Yasser Arafat.
“To now have some of these presentations on display at King House in Boyle will prove to be a major tourist attraction for visitors at home and abroad.
“I would also like to thank staff at Roscommon County Council and at King House for their great work in securing these items. The McAleese collection will undoubtedly further enhance the visitor experience at King House.”
