The President's inauguration speech and her stated desire to build bridges received a decidedly unenthusiastic response from mainstream unionists.
Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, Ulster Unionist MP for Lagan Valley, said the President, Mrs McAleese, would have "her work cut out for her" in building bridges. "If she genuinely wants to be a bridge builder, then she should encourage her Government to be more open to changing their Constitution to reflect the reality that Northern Ireland isn't part of the national territory of the Irish Republic," he said.
Mr Donaldson said Mrs McAleese and the Irish Government would have "to demonstrate in words and deeds" over the coming years that they wanted to build bridges. "If this is not about `pushing', then I think we would like to see a more open, co-operative spirit coming from the Irish Republic."
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said Mrs McAleese's decision not to wear a poppy had "added insult to the injury of victims everywhere". He said he had thrown his invitation to the inauguration into the bin.
Lord Alderdice, leader of the Alliance Party, who attended the inauguration, said it was a pity unionist representatives had felt unable to attend, but he wasn't "entirely surprised". He said he felt the President had made "a genuine effort" in the things she said in her speech.
Lord Alderdice said she had set herself a very high agenda in following Mary Robinson and in speaking about building bridges. "Such aspirations are good aspirations. And now the question is how much, not only she, but all the rest of us, can build upon that and actually achieve reconciliation," he said.
The Alliance leader said he hoped she would be "sensitive to the concerns as well as to the aspirations" of the different sections of the community in Northern Ireland on the issue of making visits over the Border.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein accused the BBC of snubbing nationalists by not carrying a live broadcast of the inauguration. Northern chairman, Mr Gerry O hEara, said he found the decision disappointing and discriminatory, and said the BBC was reflecting "an old and cautious agenda at a time in our history when we are trying to resolve the difficulties that divide our people". Highlights of the ceremony were shown on BBC2 television last night.
An editorial in the Irish News yesterday said it was "shocking" that BBC Northern Ireland had decided not to broadcast the inauguration live and that the corporation had let down nationalist and unionist viewers.