MICHAEL D HIGGINS will become the ninth president of Ireland when he is inaugurated at a ceremony in Dublin Castle later today.
The 70-year-old will be sworn in by the chief justice Justice Susan Denham after a multi-faith service and humanist reflection at noon today before giving his first address as president in St Patrick’s Hall at the castle.
Around 300 members of the Defence Forces will participate in the events providing the president-elect and his wife Sabina a motorcycle escort and a guard of honour on their way to Dublin Castle .
After Higgins is inaugurated there will be 21 gun salute from Collins Barracks and an Air Corp fly past as well as the combined bands of the Defence Forces.
Higgins will also make his first address as president.
Attending the ceremony will be Taoiseach Enda Kenny and various other dignitaries including former Taoiseach Brian Cowen as well as the outgoing president Mary McAleese.
After the ceremony concludes just after 1pm, the new president and his wife will have another escort to their new home at Áras an Uachtaráin.
TheJournal.ie will be liveblogging events from Dublin Castle from around 11.30am today.
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