"I AM following a pilgrimage, though I didn't come in a coracle, I came in a helicopter," the President, Mrs Robinson, said yesterday when she landed on the Scottish island of Iona to take part in celebrations marking the 1,400th anniversary of the death of St Colmcille, or St Columba as he is known in Scotland.
Mrs Robinson was warmly greeted by the 300 strong ecumenical congregation in the island's restored abbey. Later she visited the grave of the former Labour Party leader, John Smith, to whom she paid tribute as an admired and respected "man of great integrity" who gave moral and political leadership.
On Saturday the President started a four day journey retracing the path of St Colmcille from his birthplace in Gartan, Co Donegal, to the Scottish western islands, where he founded a number of monasteries.
After visiting Gartan, the President joined leaders of Derry's four main churches Catholic, Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian for ecumenical services in St Columb's Church of Ireland Cathedral and the Catholic Long Tower Church.
The service at St Columb's Cathedral was led by the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Dr James Mehaffey. He was joined by the Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty; the Rev Ken Best, former president of the Methodist Church in Ireland; and the Presbyterian Moderator, the Rev Gilbert Young.
After the 20 minute service the President and the church leaders, accompanied by the British government representative Lord Dubs, the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, and the Mayor of Derry, Mr Seamus Bradley, walked the short distance to Long Tower Church on the edge of the Bogside, where she was welcomed by a couple of hundred well wishers.
During interviews on Iona yesterday Mrs Robinson said she regarded it as an opportunity to come on a pilgrimage, following in the footsteps of Columba". Today the President flies to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, followed by a visit to the Gaelic college on the Isle of Skye, where she said she will be following the footsteps of the Land League campaigner Michael Davitt. In 1887 he received a rapturous welcome from Scottish crofters who were then fighting for land rights.
Her three day private visit ends tomorrow with a business breakfast in Glasgow and a newspaper charity lunch.