Reaction in Northern Ireland to the McAleese success was native and academic on her achievement, while senior unionists dismissed her bridge-building aspirations.
As far as some unionists are concerned, it was evident last night that Mrs McAleese's appeal for a softening of the "harsh language" of Northern politics has so far fallen on deaf ears.
The Ulster Unionist Party security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, said there would be few unionists prepared to accept as sincere any conciliatory gestures from Mrs McAleese, "who during the election campaign emphasised her nationalism and her Roman Catholicism".
He added: "Her election demonstrates that Northern Ireland affairs are peripheral to the interests of the Republic's electorate. I think this will make it easier for unionists to explain why there is little real prospect of closer ties with the Republic."
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said the South now had "a President who pleases the Provos". He described Mrs McAleese as a "dyed-in-the-wool green belligerent nationalist".
The Alliance leader, Lord Alderdice, who called on Mrs McAleese to withdraw from the campaign in the interests of nationalist-unionist relations, congratulated her on her victory.
"What is important is that she will try to achieve what she said she would do. But I have to say that some of the events during the campaign will make it more difficult for her to achieve what she wants. I wish her success in working to that end," he added.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, wished Mrs McAleese well in the major challenges that lay ahead "as she leads this country into the next century".
Mr Hume said he looked forward to a peaceful future in Northern Ireland, and the international goodwill for economic development that would follow. "And I believe the new President will play a major role in that economic development," he said.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, was unavailable for comment yesterday, but party chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin congratulated Mrs McAleese on her "stunning success".
The SDLP chairman, Mr Jonathan Stephenson, said Mrs McAleese's victory would "bring honour" to the Northern nationalist community.
"For legitimate and understandable reasons politicians in the Republic bend over backwards to understand the sensitivities and concerns of Northern unionists. Mary McAleese's election will do much to reassure the nationalist community that they, too, have not been forgotten," he added.
