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New president Michael D Higgins inaugurated in Dublin | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The ninth President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, has been inaugurated at Dublin Castle. | |
Hundreds of dignitaries, including the first and deputy first ministers, attended the ceremony on Friday. | |
The veteran politician was sworn in for his seven-year term in front of Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Chief Justice Susan Denham. | |
Mr Higgins took over from Mary McAleese who said an emotional farewell on Thursday after 14 years in the role. | |
The new president's wife and children attended the ceremony. | |
Mr Higgins arrived at the state apartments in the castle before 12:00 GMT for a service of prayer attended by members of all major religions to mark the start of the ceremony. | Mr Higgins arrived at the state apartments in the castle before 12:00 GMT for a service of prayer attended by members of all major religions to mark the start of the ceremony. |
As well as the blessing, there was a moment of reflection to mark the humanist philosophy and secular aspects of Irish life. | |
Formal signing | Formal signing |
During his election campaign, Mr Higgins, 70, spoke about the need to be more inclusive and also suggested the Presidential Oath of Office could be modernised to support that idea. | During his election campaign, Mr Higgins, 70, spoke about the need to be more inclusive and also suggested the Presidential Oath of Office could be modernised to support that idea. |
At the inauguration, the taoiseach requested the chief justice to read the Declaration of Office to Mr Higgins, followed by a formal signing in St Patrick's Hall. | |
After the ceremony, the Presidential Standard, blue with a gold harp, was hoisted above Dublin Castle and a 21-gun salute fired from the grounds of Collins Barracks a mile away. | |
The president was then escorted by motorcycle outriders to Aras an Uachtaráin, the president's home, where he hosted a lunch for 100 people. | |
Mr Higgins follows President McAleese, widely praised and heralded for her two terms in office and her theme of building bridges with communities across the Republic and Northern Ireland. | Mr Higgins follows President McAleese, widely praised and heralded for her two terms in office and her theme of building bridges with communities across the Republic and Northern Ireland. |
In his election speech, the former Labour Party politician vowed to lead the country in a necessary change in thinking in society and away from values based on wealth. | In his election speech, the former Labour Party politician vowed to lead the country in a necessary change in thinking in society and away from values based on wealth. |
Mr Higgins, who secured more than one million votes, said his seven-year term would be defined by efforts to turn inclusion into reality. |