Mary McAleese becomes the eighth President of Ireland, the first from Ulster and the second woman in office.
In keeping with tradition, the blue Rolls Royce brought Mary McAleese to Dublin Castle for her inauguration. At Dublin Castle, the president elect was greeted by a rousing reception. Six hundred guests, including church, business, community and political leaders, packed into St Patrick's Hall for the inauguration ceremony.
Upon her arrival, Mary McAleese was greeted by Tánaiste Mary Harney and Minister Michael Woods. Inside St Patrick's Hall, the guests and the Council of State awaited. The Council of State included two former Presidents, Mary Robinson and Patrick Hillery. Following the service of prayers, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern invited the Chief Justice Liam Hamilton to administer the Declaration of Office to the president elect. After signing the declaration, the presidential standard was raised above Dublin Castle and a twenty-one-gun salute was fired.
Before making her address, President Mary McAleese met twenty-one specially invited people drawn from various stands of Irish life. President McAleese spoke about this historic day in her own life and in the life of the country.
It is a wonderful privilege for me to be chosen as Uachtarán na hÉireann, to be voice for Ireland at home and abroad. I'm honoured and humbled to be successor to seven exemplary Presidents.
As the first President of Ireland from Ulster, Mary McAleese said that the theme of her presidency would be building bridges.
These bridges require no engineering skills but they will demand patience, imagination and courage.
President Mary McAleese also spoke about the need for reconciliation in an ever diverse Ireland. Quoting Belfast poet Louis MacNeice,
A single purpose can be founded on a jumble of opposites.
The inauguration coincided with Armistice Day the new president remembered all those who died during two world wars.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 11 November 1997. The reporter is Charlie Bird.
