By Sean Moriarty

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins paid a short visit to Killarney this week as the INEC hosted its first conference in months.

FIRST CONFERENCE: Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD meeting Patrick O'Donoghue MD Gleneagle Group and Breffni Ingerton Director of Gleneagle Events at the INEC on Wednesday night: Photo Valerie O'Sullivan

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VISIT: President Michael Higgins with Minister Simon Coveney and Breffni Ingerton of the Gleneagle Hotel Group arriving at the INEC on Wednesday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

In his capacity as the Supreme Commander of the Irish Defence Forces he addressed the Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDForra) conference.

The three-day conference – the first at the INEC since restrictions were lifted – ran from Tuesday afternoon until yesterday morning (Thursday).

President Higgins made his speech on Wednesday night before overnighting at the nearby Brehon Hotel.

Minister for Defence Simon Coveney also attended and local dignitaries included Mayor of Killarney Marie Moloney.

“It was a wonderful occasion, the fact that this was the first major conference in Killarney for a long time and the President of Ireland was there,” she told the Killarney Advertiser.

“It is a sure sign that we are coming back to normality.”