Irish president is inaugurated

Mary McAleese was given the seal of office for the second time

Mary McAleese has been inaugurated as Irish president for a second term at a ceremony in Dublin Castle.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was among 700 guests at the event on Thursday which consisted of an inter-faith service and a civil declaration.

Mrs McAleese, 53, from Belfast, was returned to the post for a further seven years last month.

Her nomination was unopposed after her potential rival, Dana Rosemary Scallon, failed to get enough support.

'Unique service'

The Eurovision winner and former MEP failed to get the support of either four councils or the signatures of 20 TDs and senators.

Mrs McAleese had nominated herself for another term which, under the Republic of Ireland's constitution, a sitting president can do.

The former Pro-Vice Chancellor at Queen's University was first elected in 1997 as the eighth president of Ireland - and the first from Northern Ireland.

She had the support of both Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats when she first ran for office.

In her address, President McAleese said Ireland had "struggled with that other ambition for the unity of our island".

What had been agreed overwhelmingly was "an honourable compromise in which we acknowledged the right of the people of Northern Ireland to decide their own destiny and declared our desire to work with them in peaceful partnership", she said.

Mrs McAleese said she began her second term "with fresh anticipation, proud to represent one of the world's most successful and dynamic countries with a rags to riches, conflict to peace story that I know inspires many in a troubled world".

Mr Ahern welcomed her second term saying that she had given "outstanding and unique service to the Irish people" during the past seven years.

She travelled in the same car used by her seven predecessors

He said that her re-election was in the best interests of Ireland, praising her "great charisma, strong intellect and exceptional skill".

Unionists in Northern Ireland said they would like to see Mrs McAleese continuing her outreach work to their community.

On Thursday, the president travelled to Dublin Castle in the traditional Rolls Royce accompanied by motorbikes drawn from 2nd cavalry squadron.

She invited a number of community and voluntary group representatives from throughout Ireland as her own personal guests.

The inauguration was witnessed by 700 schoolchildren from both primary and secondary levels, representing each county in Ireland, north and south.

Later, the president will be guest of honour at a reception for more than 2,000 guests in Dublin Castle hosted by the Irish government to celebrate her inauguration.