Irish president's four-day Scotland visit highlights growing ties and raises questions over Irish unity

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Irish President Catherine Connolly has raised the divisive issue of Northern Ireland during a meeting with the King in Scotland, as Scottish First Minister John Swinney accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of displaying a "terrible ignorance" of the Belfast Agreement after Burnham declared a Border poll "off the table."

Swinney recently signed a memorandum with Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald, Michelle O'Neill and Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth calling on London to "prepare for, plan and facilitate" constitutional change across Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Connolly and Swinney also discussed the Gaza conflict, Ukraine and climate change — with Connolly set to travel on to Glasgow, Coatbridge and the Isle of Skye during her four-day visit.