A spoken word poet from Dublin has written a tribute to president-elect Catherine Connolly.
Titled 'A Voice for Change', Mikey Cullen said he wrote the poem because he felt Ms Connolly "speaks for me and my generation".
The 28-year-old, who has performed at events and festivals all over Dublin and Ireland, said: "I think young people definitely don't feel represented by the two parties in Government.
"Most of my friends are living in Australia now. Some would have gone naturally, but a lot of it is because of things like the housing crisis and the closing down of cultural spaces.
"But it feels like Catherine Connolly does embody and reflect the values and wishes of the young people in this country.
"I think she's in touch with the current zeitgeist, whereas the other candidates were more removed from what's happening on the ground.
"Catherine Connolly's campaign spoke to that. She had so many people from diverse communities out to canvas for her and her campaign was very inclusive. She had 'Students for Connolly', 'Artists for Connolly', 'Carers for Connolly'.
"She also included the cultural aspects of this country in a huge way. She spoke about ideas and had a vision.
"She comes across as a very genuine person and politician."
Mr Cullen, who teaches history and English in secondary schools, believes it is important that teenagers who were too young to vote in this election, also have a president that represents them.
"Most definitely. We need to think about what kind of country are they coming into.
"A lot of younger people feel disenfranchised from politics.
"That's why Catherine Connolly is important. She speaks with a vision for Ireland and a new republic that benefits the ordinary people.
"People naturally gravitated towards her and there's something about her that speaks to people of my age and my generation."
Watch our video to see Mikey Cullen perform 'A Voice for Change'. Mural by Emmalene Blake.
