President-elect Mrs Mary McAleese has been thanking those who helped her campaign. On Sunday she and her husband Martin hosted a dinner at a Portmarnock hotel for the 20 closest to her during the gruelling six weeks.
This week, Mrs McAleese and her family have been winding up their affairs in the North, planning their move, viewing Aras an Uachtarain with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and most of all preparing for Tuesday's inauguration. Uniquely there will be four parties during the day, and hundreds of people will enjoy the hospitality of the new regime. About 500 guests will be invited to St Patrick's Hall for the inauguration, then 100 will go to the Aras for lunch. At 5.30 p.m. a further 200 will arrive for a reception, and that night the Taoiseach will entertain 1,500 in Dublin Castle. A broad spectrum of interests from throughout the country will be represented, including many from the North.
Mrs McAleese, who has been staying in a north Dublin hotel, has four speeches to prepare and several guest-lists to draw up. Next week she will be turning her attention to what staff she will take on and dealing with the many requests for attendance at upcoming events.