'How Leah captured our hearts' - Evening Herald 18th May (May-2011)
By Cormac Murphy and Adelina Campos
A DUBLIN schoolgirl has spoken of her delight after meeting Queen Elizabeth II at Aras an Uachtarain.
Leah Ennis McLoughlin, a pupil at St Mary's School for the Deaf in Cabra, was given the honour of ringing the Peace Bell as the queen planted a tree. President McAleese gave Leah a thumbs-up after she performed the duty along with Belfast teenager Danny Rea. "They were asking me where I was from. Then the President was saying 'thank you, you did a great job'," Leah revealed.
The youngster described her emotions as she performed the task. "I felt honoured and proud to represent my school and all the deaf girls here," Leah said.
Leah and Danny, who are both deaf, were chosen to ring the Peace Bell as the queen planted a tree in the grounds of the President's home in the formal ceremony.
After they had tolled the bell once, President McAleese blew them a kiss before introducing them to the queen. During the ceremony, head gardener Robert Norris handed the queen a spade and she carefully shovelled three piles of earth on to the tree.
The queen planted an Irish oak, following in the footsteps of Queen Victoria who planted a giant redwood in 1861. Danny (16), who attends the Northern Ireland Jordanstown School for the Deaf or Visually Impaired, said it was a special moment for him and his family.
"It's been such an honour," he said.
Video of tree planting, with sub-titles, to follow soon.
