Three Irish fashion designers - Deborah Veale, Aideen Bodkin and N & C Kilkenny - are competing to dress the President, Mrs McAleese, for her inauguration ceremony in Dublin Castle on Thursday.
All were invited to present sketches and fabric samples some weeks ago, and have now submitted finished garments for selection. The decision on the successful candidate will be made this morning.
Of the three, only one, Deborah Veale - whose clients include television presenters Miriam O'Callaghan and Grainne Seoige - has dressed the President before, the most recent ensemble being an orange silk and linen suit she wore photographed with members of the Irish Olympic team at Áras an Uachtaráin. The decision to select younger and less established designers was a deliberate one made to highlight their work.
Nicola Kilkenny who, along with her sister Caroline, set up in business three years ago has, however, experience of working with heads of state. While based in Qatar, she was the designer of choice of the Emir's wife, Sheika Mosa, for seven years, designing both day and evening wear for her.
Like the others, the third candidate, Aideen Bodkin, is known for her tailoring. She worked with Louise Kennedy for many years, and was a runner-up in the recent competition for the revamping of the staff uniforms at Áras an Uachtaráin. That was won by Miriam Mone, the Armagh-born designer responsible for the President's wardrobe at her first inauguration seven years ago.
The ceremony on Thursday begins at midday in St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle, with a multi-denominational prayer service followed by a civil ceremony in which the President will take the oath of office. Afterwards 700 children and 300 community representatives from North and South will gather in the courtyard for the 21-gun salute and trumpet fanfare.
The President will return to the Áras for lunch attended by 120 people, including members of the Government and judiciary and the President's own guests.
That evening she will host a reception for over 1,000 at Dublin Castle, including members of the diplomatic corps, Government, civil servants and judiciary.
