The taking apart and cleaning of two enormous chandeliers is just some of the behind-the-scenes work taking place in Dublin Castle ahead of the inauguration of president-elect Catherine Connolly on Tuesday 11 November.
Apart from the usual housekeeping, paintwork maintenance and inspection of the red carpet, the two enormous chandeliers in St Patrick's Hall - where the ceremony will take place - are lowered carefully by the Office of Public Works team for specialist cleaning.
Crafted by Waterford Crystal in the 1990s, the chandeliers are taken apart and cleaned by a former employee Eamonn Flynn with the work attracting a lot of attention from visitors.
"Everyone is curious about the weight of it, how long it took to clean it and how many pieces are on it, so a lot of questions. The weight of that chandelier is 127kgs and we didn't get time to count all the pieces," explained Mr Flynn.
Watch: Preperations under way at Dublin Castle for inauguration
Castle curator William Derham is overseeing the work at the castle: "For this event in particular of course, we want the place to look its best because it is going to be seen by more people than at any point over the next seven years."
Mr Derham has also overseen some specialist projects, including the refurbishment of the former throne used in most presidential inaugurations since 1938.
The throne's origins in royal visits to the castle dates back to the mid-19th century as it was part of a pair made for Britain's Queen Victoria and Albert when they first visited Ireland in 1849.
The throne was a centre-piece for royal visits to the castle when it was the seat of British rule in Ireland.
Mr Derham described the throne's adaptation for Douglas Hyde's inauguration in 1938: The royal crown was taken off the top and the monogram VR was removed, and it had an embroidered harp placed on the back of it.
Now 87 years since it was used in the first presidential inauguration and in need of a major overhaul, the former throne was regilded in Belfast and then reupholstered at the OPW Furniture Division in Kilmainham.
On its return to Dublin Castle, the 1938 chair coverings, embroidered with shamrocks and the State harp, were carefully reattached by textile conservator Karen Horton.
"I would hope it would last at least another 100 years before it needs doing [again]. We like to think that. It’s a great privilege and honour to work on this," said Ms Horton.
Another inauguration project is the display of a new set of presidential coats of arms at the top of the grand staircase leading to St Patrick's Hall.
In total, the castle has eight of them on display; President Michael D Higgins's will become the 9th and there is space for 11 more future presidents.
Dónal Burke is a consultant herald of arms at the office of the Chief Herald of Ireland and he explained that each president has input into their coat of arms. He said the coat of arms says a lot about the president's background history and their goals in life.
Lisburn-based Billy Lutton painted the plaques of Mary Robinson, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh and Séan T O’Kelly.
"I am very proud to stand here and look at them and say I did these, and they will be here a long time after I am gone," said Mr Lutton.
Next week, the 15th Irish presidential inauguration will take place in Dublin Castle after months of planning and behind-the-scenes work.
As Mr Derham sums it up: "It's a great joy working somewhere like Dublin Castle. It is all about teamwork. The chandelier, the coats of arms, everybody is so proud to be involved in something like this. It’s lovely to see that civic spirit and pride both in the work people are doing but also in the event they are doing it for."
Nationwide will air at 7pm tonight on RTÉ One
