Ireland's New President Catherine Connolly

Muhammad Sakhawat Hossain
Catherine Connolly has been sworn in as the new president of Ireland. Connolly, 68, succeeds Michael D. Higgins.

She was sworn in as the 10th President of Ireland after winning a landslide victory in October this year. Taking the oath, Connolly said, "We want to build a beautiful country with the joy of people's courage and determination."
She was officially inaugurated on Tuesday in a grand ceremony at Dublin Castle.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by the country's politicians, judges and other invited guests. Connolly defeated Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys in the election.
The position of president in Ireland is largely ceremonial and non-executive, but it has an important symbolic significance in the country's public life.
A prayer and discussion meeting was held as part of the inauguration ceremony. The new president and Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin then spoke.
Prime Minister Martin congratulated the newly elected president and said he had no doubt that Catherine Connolly would serve the country, state broadcaster RTE reported. He thanked outgoing President Higgins and his wife Sabina for their “extraordinary contribution” and said the country owed them “an immense debt of gratitude.”
In his maiden speech, Connolly said, “I stand before you humbly and proudly as the 10th President of this beautiful country. The people have given their verdict and given their President a strong mandate to realise the dream of a new republic; a republic where everyone is valued and diversity is valued, where sustainable solutions are implemented quickly and where housing is a basic human right.”
In his speech, Connolly called for a global spotlight on ongoing conflicts and, citing Ireland’s long-standing policy of neutrality and peacekeeping, said Ireland is well placed to develop alternatives to war.