The inauguration of Catherine Connolly as President marks the ultimate stage in a long and winding political journey.
After training as a psychologist before pursuing a career in law, the Galway native was elected to the local corporation in 1999 for the Labour Party.
From early on, she emphasised the importance of social justice and community activism, as well as highlighting long standing issues around health and housing.
In an address to her party's annual conference in the year she became a councillor, Catherine Connolly told delegates that the "marginalised, despite the apparent level of support now offered to people on the margins, still experience a strong feeling of isolation, lack of worth and an inability to alter their status".
It was a theme she was to return to, speaking regularly about the contrasts in Irish society and what she identified as a "deficit of vision" to properly address these.
Ms Connolly was re-elected to Galway City Council in 2004 and subsequently served a term as mayor.
Soon afterwards, she indicated her intention to contest the 2007 General Election in Galway West.
But when Labour opted to field just one candidate, in the shape of Michael D Higgins, she left the party and stood as an Independent, garnering just over 2,000 first preferences before being eliminated on the eighth count.
Building on her council experience, Ms Connolly ran again in the 2011 General Election. That resulted in a marathon count in Galway West, during which she came within 17 votes of taking the final seat.
In the aftermath, she spoke of how her message had resonated with voters.
"We almost did it and we did it in a straight and honest way, we did it with integrity. And we nearly did it by offering a vision and we'll come back and we’ll do it in the future," she said.
That prediction came to pass five years later in February 2016 when Ms Connolly was elected to the national parliament on her third attempt. In so doing, she effectively took the seat that had been held in the constituency by Labour for over two decades.
She retained her position in Leinster House in the 2020 General Election and went on to be elected Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the 33rd Dáil.
She combined those duties with her role as an Independent deputy, serving on a number of Oireachtas committees and regularly contributing to parliamentary debates. Emphasising the Irish language, drawing attention to the housing crisis and highlighting social issues, her inputs were widely regarded.
By the time of last November's General Election, having firmly established herself on the national political stage, Catherine Connolly was comfortably re-elected in Galway West.
But she is still a somewhat polarising figure in the constituency. In particular, her opposition to plans for a bypass of the city, in favour of different transport alternatives, has not endeared her to all voters.
Notwithstanding that, there seems to be a general welcome and a sense of anticipation locally, at her elevation to the highest political office in the land.
'Whole of Galway is thrilled'
Shoppers at Galway market over the weekend spoke in glowing terms about a woman who has been a familiar figure around the city for many years.
Her down to earth nature and readiness to speak out were repeatedly mentioned by those offering a view on the next president.
Watch: People of Galway pay tribute to Catherine Connolly ahead of inauguration
Angela Duffy from Oughterard was involved as a canvasser for the Connolly campaign.
"The whole of Galway is thrilled and we wish her the best … she will represent the country in the way we all want her to. She was a brilliant voice in the Dáil, for the underprivileged, for people with disabilities and she’s always about the best for people."
Paul Illian, who runs the Happy Loaf bakery, said Ms Connolly was a regular customer of his, with a fondness for cake. He said the new president was a great ambassador for Galway, before joking that he would soon be dispatching baked goods to Phoenix Park for her.
Marian Merrick paid tribute to "a wonderful representative for Galway for many years" saying "her integrity and honesty" were standout qualities.
Those sentiments were echoed by Janette Kochen, who hopes Ms Connolly will follow the example of Michael D Higgins.
"He was careful but he spoke out when he needed to and I expect that from her as well," she said.
After a political career that has been marked by a quiet yet steely determination, prioritising a blend of pragmatism over populism, Catherine Connolly has laid the foundations for her new role.
How she builds on those over the next seven years will be keenly watched by those who have voted for her since she first entered public life here more than two-and-a-half decades ago.
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Connolly says she will be 'a symbol' for new movement
There will be live coverage of the presidential inauguration on RTÉ Radio 1 from 11.55am on an extended News at One.
Television coverage begins on RTÉ One and the RTÉ News Channel at 11.15am.
