The following are the 26 people selected by the President to sit in the front row of her inauguration ceremony yesterday and whom she greeted personally immediately after being sworn into office.
Cathal O'Loughlin (22), disabled and from a family of 10 brothers and sisters; works at a sheltered workshop in Naas, Co Kildare; representing the disabled.
Ciaran Kelly (17), a keen sportsman and former captain of the Laois minor football team; from Athy, Co Kildare, attending St Mary's College in Knockbeg, Co Carlow; representing sport.
Cassandra Pryle (8), from Navan, Co Meath; had been due to dance for Mrs McAleese when she made a campaign visit to Manchester, England, but broke her leg three days beforehand; representing dance and music.
Patsy Dan Rogers, King of Tory Island and an artist; representing the islands.
Jane Williams, from Clonmel but living in Wicklow; a businesswoman who advises others how to set up businesses; representing business.
Winnie Ryan, unemployed and living in Ballymun; administrator of the Ballymun Partnership; representing the unemployed. Peter Sands, representing retired workers and the aged; former president of IMPACT trade union.
Tatens Toomey, employee of Bewleys cafe in Grafton Street, Dublin, for 40 years; chosen to represent hospitality.
Harvey Bicker, Ulster Unionist Party councillor from Co Down; representing Northern Ireland.
Mary Kenny, Nurse of the Year; works at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin; representing nursing. Mandy Darwin (19), from Clondalkin, Co Dublin; clerical worker representing young people.
Garda Brenda Daniels (28), serving in Terenure Garda station, Dublin; sang at the Garda Siochana 75th anniversary concert last month in the National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Senator Margaret Cox, elected this year to the Seanad; from Galway, where she is managing director of the ICE Group; representing politicians (she is a member of Fianna Fail).
Seamus Feiritear, principal of Colaiste Mhuire, Dublin; originally from Dun Chaoin, Co Kerry; representing teachers.
Fatima Mahamad Aadan, a refugee from Somalia living in Focus Ireland accommodation in Dublin.
Martin Collins, member of the travelling community from Finglas, Dublin; has represented travellers and is currently helping to organise the European Year Against Racism.
Kathleen O'Reilly, farmer from Mulleagh, Co Cavan. Represented Co Cavan at the ploughing championships.
Private William O'Connor (24), from Drogheda, Co Louth; currently serving with Irish UN peacekeeping forces in south Lebanon; representing peacekeeping work
Eilish Dillon, member of Comhlamh, the organisation for retired development workers; is also a teacher in Loreto Secondary School in Fermoy, Co Cork; representing development work.
Father Gregory McGivern, curate in the President's former parish of Kilbronay, Rostrevor, Co Down; representing religious.
Michael Forde, originally from Knock, Co Mayo, but living in Manchester for 36 years; representing the diaspora.
Nell McCafferty, Dublin-based journalist originally from Derry; representing the media.
Richard Moran (11), attends St Paul's School in Montenotte, Cork; representing participants in the Special Olympics.
Gemma Lawlor, mother of two children from the Navan Road, Co Dublin; representing working in the home.
Stephen Peers (27) from Dublin; representing Gaisce (the President's Award Scheme), which he has won on three occasions.
Marie Coyle (25) from Donegal; representing the Irish Countrywomen's Association.