THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS gathered in Galway’s Eyre Square today to welcome home President-elect Michael D Higgins.

Higgins was elected as the successor to Mary MacAleese yesterday, and will officially become the ninth president of Ireland on 11 November.

More than 5,000 people gathered to welcome Higgins home to his native Galway, the Irish Times reports.

Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week programme earlier today, Higgins said that he had spoken with the Taoiseach and Tanáiste about holding a series of Presidential seminars – and that his proposals had been informally welcomed.

Higgins said that the series would address issues such as mortgages, unemployment and mental health.

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