Live: Catherine Connolly and family arrive at Dublin Castle for her inauguration
Michael Bolton and James Cox
- Catherine Connolly will officially become Ireland's 10th President
- Former president Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, Ms Connolly’s family, members of the government, the judiciary, religious leaders, former taoisigh and presidents are set to attend.
- Ms Connolly has pledged to focus on peace, neutrality and climate change during her term.
- At 12.40pm, Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell will read the presidential declaration in Irish.
- This will be repeated aloud by Ms Connolly who will then sign the declaration and become President of Ireland.
12.05pm The presidential inauguration ceremony for Catherine Connolly is under way at St Patrick’s Hall in Dublin Castle.
11.50am Catherine Connolly and her family have arrived at Dublin Castle ahead of her inauguration. Ms Connolly arrived alongside her husband Brian McEnery. She was greeted by Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe.
11.45am Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his wife Mary have arrived at Dublin Castle. Tánaiste Simon Harris and his wife Caoimhe Wade arrived earlier.
11.30am Former Irish presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson were among the first to arrive for the ceremony.
Michael D Higgins, who left office on Monday, arrived with his wife Sabina.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald arrived with the party’s vice-president Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
SDLP leader Claire Hanna and Irish Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik are also in attendance.
Former taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Leo Varadkar arrived together. - Press Association
11.15am Left-wing leaders who backed Catherine Connolly's campaign are seated in the front row - Holly Cairns, Ivana Bacik, Roderic O’Gorman and Mary Lou McDonald.
Michael D Higgins has arrived at Dublin Castle alongside his wife Sabina for the inauguration of successor Catherine Connolly.
Former taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Leo Varadkar walked in together.
Former President Mary McAleese has arrived at Dublin Castle for the inauguration of Catherine Connolly.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald arrived with the party’s vice-president Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
A number of TDs and senators are also in attendance.
Guests have begun arriving at Dublin Castle for the inauguration of Catherine Connolly as Ireland’s 10th president.
Among the first to arrive was Kara Owen, the British ambassador to Ireland.
Catherine Connolly will be inaugurated as Ireland’s 10th president on Tuesday at a ceremony at Dublin Castle.
The Independent TD from Galway, who is a former psychologist and barrister, has pledged to be an “inclusive” president.
In her victory speech after her landslide win, 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.
She takes over from Michael D Higgins, a popular president and poet, who is seen to have expanded the role to become more political – a feature Ms Connolly has said she will build on.
Mr Higgins, who will also attend the inauguration, ended his 14-year-term in office at midnight.
He and his wife Sabina were cheered outside the gates of Aras an Uachtarain by a runners group made up of Irish citizens, migrants and refugees.
