IT’S ALMOST FOURTEEN years to the day since Michael D Higgins won his first presidential election with a 39.6% first preference vote.

By the time he was standing for his second term in 2018, he was raking in over 55% of first preferences.

Higgins has been a popular president and even become something of a folk hero, with his fluffy dogs, fluent Irish and poetry-writing all contributing to an offbeat appeal.

He has also been outspoken, despite the convention that the head of state should stay out of politics, most recently on Gaza and, during his current term, on the housing crisis. He has faced criticism over the years for praising Fidel Castro, and for writing a letter of congratulations to the president of Iran.

Along with his wife Sabina, he has welcomed many people, communities and organisations to the Áras during his 14 years in residence there.

We want to hear our readers’ reflections on Michael D and Sabina’s two terms in Áras an Uachtaráin. We will reflect these contributions in a forthcoming article.

• What’s your assessment of Michael D Higgins’ presidency?
• What was the stand-out moment of Higgins’ presidency for you?
• Have you ever met the President or Sabina, and can you tell us about your experience?

You can get in touch my emailing answers@thejournal.ie with a paragraph or two (around 200 words).

Please let us know your name, where in the country you’re living, and whether you would like to be anonymous.