A day of ceremony, celebration and entertainment marked the inauguration yesterday of the 8th President of the Republic, Mrs Mary McAleese. The day started with the formal inauguration ceremony at Dublin Castle in the presence of dignitaries of church and state and ended there last night with a reception for a broader range of people.
At 11.55 a.m. yesterday, the President-elect Mrs McAleese arrived in bright sunshine at Dublin Castle from the Portmarnock hotel which has been her home on and off in recent weeks. Mrs McAleese and her husband, Martin, travelled in the 1948 Rolls Royce, purchased by the Department of Defence in 1949 for official use by the President and used mainly on ceremonial occasions. The Tricolour was flown on the car for the journey to the castle - the Presidential pennant was added later.
As the car and outriders drew into the upper Castle yard, the President-elect was greeted by prolonged cheers from the 800 children from schools throughout the 32 counties.
At the entrance to the State Apartments she was met by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, and the Minister for the Marine, Dr Woods, who were attended by two senior Army officers, Lt-Col Diarmuid O Mordha and Lt-Col Declan O'Carroll. The group was followed by Col Bernard Howard and Comdt Dermot O'Connor, ADCs to the President.
After a pause in the Throne Room, where the President-elect removed her coat, the party entered St Patrick's Hall as the Army No. 1 Band played the Intrada, a special piece of music composed by Comdt Joseph Ryan for the occasion.
THE President-elect was led to the dais by the Tanaiste and took her place behind the table between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Hamilton.
Members of both houses of the Oireachtas, MEPs, ambassadors, chairmen and women of local councils, senior members of the judiciary, representatives of various strands in society, north and south, of the churches and a group of 26 people representing particular groups in Ireland, including an unemployed person, an emigrant, a refugee and an islander, were already in their places on either side of the aisle in St Patrick's Hall.
A number of the President-elect's relatives, the Lenaghans, and her in-laws, the McAleese's, were among the guests. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr Mo Mowlam, sat next to the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume. On the other side of Mr Hume was the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, then Lord Alderdice, leader of the Alliance Party, and the Northern talks chairman, Senator George Mitchell. The defeated Fine Gael presidential candidate, Ms Mary Banotti, sat opposite among fellow MEPs.
A number of guests, including Dr Mowlam, wore poppies in recognition of Armistice Day yesterday; Mr Adams wore a small green ribbon.
Before the arrival of the President-elect, the Taoiseach led members of the Government to the dais. They were followed by the Council of State which included former Presidents, Mr Patrick Hillary and Mrs Mary Robinson, former Taoisigh, Mr Charles Haughey, Mr Liam Cosgrave, Mr Garret FitzGerald and Mr John Bruton. Of the two other Taoisigh on the Council of State, Mr Jack Lynch has been unwell for some time while Mr Albert Reynolds, beaten by Mrs McAleese for the Fianna Fail nomination, is abroad. Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, a former government minister, watched part of the proceedings from the press gallery.
When the President-elect sat down, the Taoiseach called on selected church representatives to commence the Service of Prayer. The Most Rev Dr Walton Empey, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, opened the proceedings and the hymn Be Thou My Vision was sung. Readings and prayers were then led by Ms J. Muriel Cameron, of the Society of Friends, followed by the Rev Dr Norman W. Taggart, president of the Methodist Church in Ireland; the Rev Mr Frank Sellar, of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; the Most Rev Dr Desmond Connell, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland; and the Chief Rabbi Gavin Broder.
The Chief Justice, Mr Justice Hamilton, then read the Declaration to the President-elect who then read it aloud. She signed the Declaration and the Chief Justice announced that the President had entered upon her office in accordance with the Constitution. He presented the new President with the Presidential Seal and the Army No. 1 Band signalled an Inau- guration Fanfare.
President McAleese then descended from the dais and shook hands with her 26 special guests representing various groups in Irish society as an Uilleann Piper played An Droichead, a specially composed piece by Liam Og O Floinn.
The Taoiseach then spoke, congratulating the new President, her husband, Martin, and children, Emma, Sarah-Mai and Justin, he said it was a special day for the entire country. She was a person of the highest calibre who would fill the office with great distinction. Her Presidency was associated with hopes for a lasting peace based on justice towards all. "Your Presidency is a symbol of inclusiveness and deeper understanding, and of a firm desire on the part of all our people to move away from the hurtful conflict of the past. I know that you will do everything in your power to increase the mutual understanding and awareness between people of all backgrounds, north and south, and as Taoiseach I will value your knowledge and advice."
He pledged the full support of the Government in her difficult and challenging task over the next seven years.
President McAleese then delivered her address and the inauguration ceremony ended with the National Anthem.
President McAleese, her husband, the Taoiseach, the Tanaiste and the ADCs then proceeded from the hall as the band played a selection of Irish airs including The Star of the County Down. They were followed by the Council of State and the Government.
President McAleese mingled with some of the guests inside the Castle before emerging into the yard, escorted by the Taoiseach and Tanaiste. After inspecting a guard of honour drawn from the 5th Infantry Battalion at McKee Barracks, Dublin, under the command of Capt Mark Hearns, the President anaiste and the President's ADCs toured the Castle yard speaking to the school children.
The President and Mr McAleese were then driven through the city to Aras an Uachtarain where they entertained 150 guests to lunch. The list included members of the Government, relatives and friends and some of her election campaign workers. Other guests at the inauguration ceremony had lunch at Dublin Castle. At 5.30 p.m. a reception was held in the Aras for some 200 guests.At 6.30 p.m., a 10-minute firework display was held in the Phoenix Park to mark the inauguration.
At 7 p.m. the new President was guest of honour at a reception in Dublin Castle hosted by the Taoiseach. Some 2,500 people were invited. The invitation stated clearly that dress was to be informal, but the President wore a long evening gown designed by Mary Gregory which incorporated in the fabric the words of the Christopher Logue poem, Come to the Edge.