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31/10/2011
Higgins Ireland's Ninth President
After weeks of campaigning and debates Michael D Higgins has been named as the ninth president of Ireland.
The official results came in on Saturday afternoon at Dublin Castle national count centre.
Sean Gallagher who was pegged as the 'frontrunner' in the final opinion poll of the race slid home in second place but he congratulated Mr Higgins saying that he would be a "wonderful leader".
The candidate who won over one million votes has promised to be the "peoples president".
He said: "From this moment I will cease to be a member and president of the Labour Party, a party which has informed my thinking and the ethos of my life.
"For the presidency is an independent office and the Irish people, of which I appreciate so much, and, I think with this responsibility, have given a very clear mandate on a very clear set of ideas to me as the ninth President of Ireland."
Reactions from his home town have been massive and over 5,000 people gathered in Galway to welcome Mr Higgins home.
Mayor Hildgard Naughton said Galway was "very proud" of Mr Higgins' contribution to its political life and his work in promoting the arts.
Bishop of Galway Dr Martin Drennan said Mr Higgins had served the people of Galway with care and compassion and was now called on to serve the country in a very special way.
The former university lecturer and long serving Labour TD for West Galway will be formally inaugurated as the country ninth President on 11 November.
(LB/BMcC)
The official results came in on Saturday afternoon at Dublin Castle national count centre.
Sean Gallagher who was pegged as the 'frontrunner' in the final opinion poll of the race slid home in second place but he congratulated Mr Higgins saying that he would be a "wonderful leader".
The candidate who won over one million votes has promised to be the "peoples president".
He said: "From this moment I will cease to be a member and president of the Labour Party, a party which has informed my thinking and the ethos of my life.
"For the presidency is an independent office and the Irish people, of which I appreciate so much, and, I think with this responsibility, have given a very clear mandate on a very clear set of ideas to me as the ninth President of Ireland."
Reactions from his home town have been massive and over 5,000 people gathered in Galway to welcome Mr Higgins home.
Mayor Hildgard Naughton said Galway was "very proud" of Mr Higgins' contribution to its political life and his work in promoting the arts.
Bishop of Galway Dr Martin Drennan said Mr Higgins had served the people of Galway with care and compassion and was now called on to serve the country in a very special way.
The former university lecturer and long serving Labour TD for West Galway will be formally inaugurated as the country ninth President on 11 November.
(LB/BMcC)
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