STATE RECEPTION:SOME 1,700 guests attended a State reception in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle last night to celebrate the inauguration of the new President, Michael D Higgins.
Mr Higgins and his wife, Sabina Higgins, were accompanied to the event from their new home, Áras an Uachtaráin, by a captain’s escort of honour. A lone piper struck up a tune from an illuminated outdoor balcony facing the State Apartments prior to their arrival.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who greeted the couple at the end of a red carpet, told reporters that Mr Higgins would put his “individual stamp” on the office.
President of the High Court Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns was present as was Attorney General Máire Whelan.
US ambassador Dan Rooney arrived early, closely followed by Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party Eamon Gilmore, with his wife, Carol Hanney.
Former taoiseach John Bruton attended, as did former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes, now chairman of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, formerly Anglo Irish Bank.
From Fianna Fáil former minister Pat Carey and former minister of state Martin Mansergh attended, while former Green Party leader and former minister John Gormley was also there.
Among the invitees were former Fianna Fáil minister Ray Burke and former EU commissioner Pádraig Flynn.
Former SDLP leader John Hume attended. Kevin Cardiff, the secretary general of the Department of Finance who is the Government’s nominee for the European Court of Auditors, was also on the long guest list, as was Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly.
Sharon Shannon, the Galway-based musician and long-time supporter of Mr Higgins, and her band provided entertainment for the guests, as did harpist Siobhán Armstrong and an octet of young musicians from Naas.
On the menu was Thai fish cakes; honey and mustard cocktail sausages; mango and smoked chicken tapas; smoked salmon; caviar; yakitori chicken and a selection of sandwiches. Draft and bottled beers were available, along with a selection of wines. The Ireland versus Estonia soccer match could be seen on a number of televisions during the event, although the sound was kept muted.
The actor Gabriel Byrne, comedian Des Bishop and poet Paul Durcan were also on the guest list. The novelist, poet and playwright Dermot Bolger was there, as was actor Barry McGovern. The musician Christy Moore, academic Declan Kiberd and director of Social Justice Ireland Fr Seán Healy also attended.
Mr Higgins’s children were persuaded to pose for photographers on their way in. Labour TD Joe Costello, who was Mr Higgins’s director of elections during the presidential campaign, said he looked forward to welcoming the new President to his Dublin Central constituency.
Three busloads of ambassadors and diplomatic staff were among the first of the guests to arrive, while most other guests crossed the cobblestoned courtyard on foot.
Religious leaders, various Government advisers and a number of media representatives, including Hot Press editor Niall Stokes, were in attendance. Joe and Steve Wall from the band The Stunning were present.
Mr Higgins was entitled to invite 70 personal guests to the event.
His guest list included the unsuccessful candidates in the recent presidential election: Mary Davis, Seán Gallagher, Martin McGuinness, Gay Mitchell, David Norris and Dana Rosemary Scallon.
