McAleese: I'll miss the people aspect of Presidency
The President Mary McAleese has said she is "very sad" that her 14-year term in office is coming to an end.
Mary McAleese - who officially opened the 2011 National Ploughing Championships in Co Kildare today in one of her final public engagements - said she would miss the job "terribly".
She said: "I'm going to miss it terribly…I'll miss the people and the engagement with them."
The President wished luck to all the candidates who are bidding to succeed her in the race for the Áras.
