A Cabinet minister has broken ranks by calling for a presidential election this year.

Okay folks, it’s showtime! The late PJ Mara’s open invitation to electioneer and party would have nothing on President Michael D Higgins, writes Gerard Howlin.

It was a state visit that changed the state of relations between Ireland and Britain for good. Here are some things we noticed along the way.

IT WAS a historic week: Michael D went to meet the Queen; Martin Mac went to meet the Queen; Tommie Gorman went to meet the Queen.

President Michael D Higgins has insisted his state visit to Britain was not intended to “force amnesia” about the country’s past treatment of Ireland.

To be, or not to be theatrical, that was the question for President Michael D Higgins as he took to the stage of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Queen will bid farewell to the President Michael D Higgins today, drawing to a close an historic four-day state visit to the UK.

IT was a sudden switch from pomp to pig pen for the President yesterday.

Martin McGuinness has heaped praise on Britain’s Queen for the way she influences the peace process.

For their historic state visit to London, President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina have both shown considerable sartorial flair.

President Higgins has visited a farm and equestrian stables on the third day of his State visit to London.

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is expected to attend a reception hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle today.

RTÉ has rejected claims by an MEP that 60 staff were sent to London to cover President Michael D Higgins’ state visit, stating the figure is an overestimation.

A return to Ireland by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is looking increasingly likely after the success of President Michael D Higgins’ visit to London.

Northern Ireland deputy first minister and ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness has rebuked Norman Tebbit for saying he hopes he is shot in the back for attending a State banquet at the invitation of the Queen.

AFTER ALL the attention lavished on him by the Queen it was a bit of a royal comedown for President Higgins to get just a drive-by handshake from the crown prince of British politics, Boris Johnson.

Despite the glowing warmth of Anglo-Irish relations and the atmosphere of genuine friendship enfolding the remarkably successful State visit of President Michael D Higgins to the UK, it would to folly to pretend all is changed utterly.

Irish people will be paying for the mistakes of the financial crash for generations to come, President Michael D Higgins has warned in a speech to London’s business elite.