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President of Ireland

Updated: Wikipedia source

President of Ireland

The president of Ireland (Irish: Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of Ireland and the supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces. The presidency was established by the Constitution of Ireland in 1937. The first president assumed office in 1938, and became recognised internationally as head of state in 1949 after the coming into effect of the Republic of Ireland Act. The president's official residence and principal workplace is Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park, Dublin. The presidency is a predominantly ceremonial institution, serving as the representative of the Irish state both at home and abroad. Nevertheless, the office of president is endowed with certain powers which have constitutional importance. While Éamon de Valera described his intentions for the office as being 'mainly to guard the Constitution', such a description is depricated by some academics, with the leading constitutional text noting "the Constitution is extremely sparing in its attribution of any independent functions to the office at all". Nevertheless, both the Office of the Secretary General to the President and the wider legal community in Ireland recognise the president as a "protector of the rights of citizens" and the "guardian of the constitution". This interpretation of the president's role is in keeping with their solemn oath to "...maintain the Constitution of Ireland and uphold its laws...". Presidents hold office for seven years, and may serve a maximum of two terms. The president is elected directly by the people, although there is no poll if only one candidate is nominated, which has occurred on six occasions, most recently in 2004. Catherine Connolly has served as president since her inauguration on 11 November 2025, having won the 2025 Irish presidential election. She is the tenth person to hold the office, as well as the third woman, following the successive tenures of Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese.

Infobox

Style
President (A Uachtaráin) or Your Excellency (A Shoilse)
Status
Head of StateCommander-in-chief
Residence
Áras an Uachtaráin
Seat
Dublin, Ireland
Nominator
Members of the Oireachtas or local councils
Appointer
Direct popular voteby Instant-runoff voting
Term length
Seven years,renewable once
Constituting instrument
Constitution of Ireland (1937) Articles 12−14
Precursor
Governor-General of the Irish Free State King of the Irish Free State
Inaugural holder
Douglas Hyde
Formation
25 June 1938; 87 years ago (1938-06-25)
Salary
€249,014 annually
Website
president.ie/en

Tables

· List of presidents of Ireland
Time in office
Time in office
No.
Took office
Name(Birth–Death)
Time in office
Douglas Hyde(1860–1949)
Douglas Hyde(1860–1949)
No.
1
Name(Birth–Death)
Douglas Hyde(1860–1949)
Previous service
Senator(1922–1925, 1938)
Term of office
25 June 1938
Term of office
24 June 1945
Term of office
7 years
Nominated by
Fianna Fáil
Election
1938
Seán T. O'Kelly(1882–1966)
Seán T. O'Kelly(1882–1966)
No.
2
Name(Birth–Death)
Seán T. O'Kelly(1882–1966)
Previous service
Tánaiste(1932–1945)
Term of office
25 June 1945
Term of office
24 June 1959
Term of office
14 years
Nominated by
Fianna Fáil
Election
1945
1952
1952
Name(Birth–Death)
1952
Éamon de Valera(1882–1975)
Éamon de Valera(1882–1975)
No.
3
Name(Birth–Death)
Éamon de Valera(1882–1975)
Previous service
Taoiseach(1932–1948, 1951–1954, 1957–1959)
Term of office
25 June 1959
Term of office
24 June 1973
Term of office
14 years
Nominated by
Fianna Fáil
Election
1959
Erskine Hamilton Childers(1905–1974)
Erskine Hamilton Childers(1905–1974)
No.
4
Name(Birth–Death)
Erskine Hamilton Childers(1905–1974)
Previous service
Tánaiste(1969–1973)
Term of office
25 June 1973
Term of office
17 November 1974
Term of office
1 year, 145 days
Nominated by
Fianna Fáil
Election
1973
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh(1911–1978)
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh(1911–1978)
No.
5
Name(Birth–Death)
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh(1911–1978)
Previous service
Chief Justice of Ireland(1961–1973)
Term of office
19 December 1974
Term of office
22 October 1976
Term of office
1 year, 308 days
Nominated by
Fianna Fáil
Election
1974
Patrick Hillery(1923–2008)
Patrick Hillery(1923–2008)
No.
6
Name(Birth–Death)
Patrick Hillery(1923–2008)
Previous service
European Commissioner for Social Affairs(1973–1976)
Term of office
3 December 1976
Term of office
2 December 1990
Term of office
14 years
Nominated by
Fianna Fáil
Election
1976
1983
1983
Name(Birth–Death)
1983
Mary Robinson(born 1944)
Mary Robinson(born 1944)
No.
7
Name(Birth–Death)
Mary Robinson(born 1944)
Previous service
Senator(1969–1989)
Term of office
3 December 1990
Term of office
12 September 1997
Term of office
6 years, 283 days
Nominated by
Labour
Election
1990
Mary McAleese(born 1951)
Mary McAleese(born 1951)
No.
8
Name(Birth–Death)
Mary McAleese(born 1951)
Previous service
Reid Professor of Criminal law, Criminology and Penologyat Trinity College Dublin
Term of office
11 November 1997
Term of office
10 November 2011
Term of office
14 years
Nominated by
Fianna Fáil
Election
1997
2004
2004
Name(Birth–Death)
2004
Michael D. Higgins(born 1941)
Michael D. Higgins(born 1941)
No.
9
Name(Birth–Death)
Michael D. Higgins(born 1941)
Previous service
Minister for Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht(1993–1997)
Term of office
11 November 2011
Term of office
10 November 2025
Term of office
14 years
Nominated by
Labour
Election
2011
2018
2018
Name(Birth–Death)
2018
Catherine Connolly(born 1957)
Catherine Connolly(born 1957)
No.
10
Name(Birth–Death)
Catherine Connolly(born 1957)
Previous service
Leas-Cheann Comhairle(2020–2024)
Term of office
11 November 2025
Term of office
Incumbent
Term of office
29 days
Nominated by
Sinn Féin
Election
2025
No.
Portrait
Name(Birth–Death)
Previous service
Term of office
Nominated by
Election
Took office
Left office
Time in office
1
Douglas Hyde(1860–1949)
Senator(1922–1925, 1938)
25 June 1938
24 June 1945
7 years
Fianna Fáil
1938
Fine Gael
2
Seán T. O'Kelly(1882–1966)
Tánaiste(1932–1945)
25 June 1945
24 June 1959
14 years
Fianna Fáil
1945
Himself
1952
3
Éamon de Valera(1882–1975)
Taoiseach(1932–1948, 1951–1954, 1957–1959)
25 June 1959
24 June 1973
14 years
Fianna Fáil
1959
1966
4
Erskine Hamilton Childers(1905–1974)
Tánaiste(1969–1973)
25 June 1973
17 November 1974
1 year, 145 days
Fianna Fáil
1973
5
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh(1911–1978)
Chief Justice of Ireland(1961–1973)
19 December 1974
22 October 1976
1 year, 308 days
Fianna Fáil
1974
Fine Gael
Labour
6
Patrick Hillery(1923–2008)
European Commissioner for Social Affairs(1973–1976)
3 December 1976
2 December 1990
14 years
Fianna Fáil
1976
Himself
1983
7
Mary Robinson(born 1944)
Senator(1969–1989)
3 December 1990
12 September 1997
6 years, 283 days
Labour
1990
Workers' Party
8
Mary McAleese(born 1951)
Reid Professor of Criminal law, Criminology and Penologyat Trinity College Dublin
11 November 1997
10 November 2011
14 years
Fianna Fáil
1997
Progressive Democrats
Herself
2004
9
Michael D. Higgins(born 1941)
Minister for Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht(1993–1997)
11 November 2011
10 November 2025
14 years
Labour
2011
Himself
2018
10
Catherine Connolly(born 1957)
Leas-Cheann Comhairle(2020–2024)
11 November 2025
Incumbent
29 days
Sinn Féin
2025
Labour
Social Democrats
PBP–Solidarity
Green
100% Redress
Independent

References

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