The Irish language has been a central part of President Catherine Connolly's political life and of her election campaign for the presidency.
When she initially decided to run, her first public confirmation was given in an interview trí Ghaeilge ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Throughout the campaign, she frequently interwove a cúpla focal into debates and speeches, as well as giving full interviews in Irish.
She also frequently referenced the number of people all around the country who spoke to her in Irish or used their cúpla focail as she was campaigning.
In her inauguration speech, President Connolly explained in great detail why she values the language and its intrinsic worth for Irish people.
Dúirt sí: "Tír gan teanga tír gan anam agus is fíor sin. Nuair atá teanga loite ní féidir leis an tír nó aon tír, a mianta, a luachanna nó a spiorad a chur in iúl."
Which translates to: "A country without a language is a country without a soul. When a language is damaged, a country cannot express its wishes, its values or its spirit."
She said Irish has been neglected and left in second place, even though it is the language of our forebears.
Dúirt sí: "Cuireadh ár dteanga, teanga ársa ár sinsir, teanga ina bhfuil spiorad ár sinsir agus nadúr na tíre le mothú i ngach uile focal sa dara áit gan meas nó ómos tughta di."
Which translates to: "Our language was put in second place , without regard or respect, the ancient language of our ancestors, the language in which the spirit of our ancestors and the nature of the country are present in every single word."
President Connolly exhorted everyone to let their fear go, let the Irish language blossom and listen to those who want recognition as Irish speakers in their own country.
She also repeated that Irish will be the first language in Áras an Uachtaráin during her presidency.
Dúirt sí: "Ní sa chúinne, á labhairt go h-íseal a bheidh an Ghaeilge san Áras, ach sa chéad áít mar theanga oibre agus beidh sí á labhairt ar fud na tíre go misniúil, go fileata go ceolmhar faoi mar atá cloiste agam agus mé ar fud na tíre."
Which translates to: "In the Áras, Gaeilge will be in first place, the working language and not spoken quietly in the corner and it will be spoken confidently around the country, poetically and musically as I have heard when I am around the country."
In a further demonstration of her dedication to the language, President Connolly urged the assembled dignitaries at her first official engagement to learn Irish.
She hosted a lunch for 90 guests at Áras an Uachtaráin after the inauguration.
The group included the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the Tánaiste Simon Harris, opposition leaders and ex-officio members of the council of state including the Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell, former taoisigh, the presidents of the high court and the court of appeal as well as the Attorney General Rossa Fanning.
"Irish is part of the solution and I would encourage all of you in most positive way to learn the Irish language. Not in any way that says you have to, quite the opposite, because it's an absolute gift to us and it's an invitation to look at the world through a different eye," she said.
The President told the group that she hoped that they could build on the wonderful joy people are taking in the Irish language adding that everyone had some Irish and they could all progress together.
She said that Irish did not contain a "false distinction" between the person and nature that she said existed in English.
Additional reporting by Sandra Hurley
