Catherine Connolly will be officially declared Ireland’s tenth president at an inauguration ceremony in Dublin Castle today.
In her victory speech after her landslide win last month, she said she would be a president who “listens and reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary”, and who will emphasise peace, neutrality and climate change during her term.
The ceremony will take place in St Patrick’s Hall, where all presidents have been inaugurated since 1938.
Guest have begun arriving at Dublin Castle in the last hour, with former presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese among the first of the dignitaries to arrive.
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald have also arrived.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly confirmed last week she would not be attending the ceremony because of a clash with Remembrance Day events.
Former president Mary Robinson and her husband Nicholas wave as they arrive
Former president Mary McAleese and her husband Martin stay dry under an umbrella
Britain’s Ambassador to Ireland Kara Owen arriving at Dublin Castle
Former taoisigh Leo Varadkar and Bertie Ahern greeted each other as they arrived this morning.
Former president Michael D Higgins, whose term expired at midnight, left Áras an Uachtaráin yesterday evening.
Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina are also attending the inauguration.
Sabina and Michael D Higgins arrive at Dublin Castle for the inauguration ceremony
They were cheered outside the gates of the Áras by the Sanctuary Runners group as they left last night.
Watch: Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina leave Áras an Uachtaráin
In the short period leading up to Ms Connolly’s inauguration, the presidential duties fall to a commission, comprised up of Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy and Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Mark Daly.
In a statement ahead of the conclusion of his term, Mr Higgins thanked the people of Ireland for the “warmth of reception” given to himself and his wife Sabina over the past 14 years and said that serving as president was “a great privilege”.
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Ms Connolly was elected on 25 October after receiving 63% of first preference votes in a race against Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin, whose name appeared on the ballot despite withdrawing from the campaign.
Ms Connolly will be declared the tenth Uachtarán na hÉireann at a lunchtime ceremony.
Preparations took place in St Patrick’s Hall in Dublin Castle last week ahead of today’s ceremony
A declaration, as laid out in Bunreacht na hÉireann, will be read by Chief Justice O’Donnell and will be repeated by Ms Connolly.
Ms Connolly has elected to read the declaration in Irish. She will then sign the declaration and will be officially declared President of Ireland.
Those attending include the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, members of the judiciary, politicians from all parties, along with guests from a cross section of Irish society.
After Chief Justice O’Donnell hands Ms Connolly the Seal of Office, a 21-gun salute will be fired from Collins Barracks.
Once inaugurated, Ms Connolly will make a short address to the assembled guests where she is likely to set out the themes that will define her presidency.
Television coverage of the presidential inauguration is on RTÉ One and the RTÉ News Channel, which will have ISL.
There will be live coverage on RTÉ Radio 1 from 11.55am on an extended News at One programme.