MICHAEL D HIGGINS has no official engagements today, his first full day as the ninth President of Ireland.
The newly-inaugurated Head of State wakes up in Áras an Uachataráin for the first time this morning but his public works will not begin until Sunday.
His first official appearance will be at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin tomorrow afternoon for the annual Remembrance Day service.
From there he will make his first presidential trip to Northern Ireland to attend the final of the All-Island School Choir Competition in Derry.
Next week, Higgins will attend the second leg of Ireland’s play-off for qualification for next summer’s European Championships. Following last night’s four-nil win, the atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium will be a celebratory one.
On Thursday evening, he will meet fellow poet Seamus Heaney at the Irish Book Awards as the Nobel laureate receives a lifetime achievement award.
The new president will also have to appoint seven people to his Council of State, his advisory board for the next seven years.
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