Clegg to be among first to visit the Áras
Last-minute preparations are being made for the inauguration of Ireland’s ninth President this week, which will include a list of special guests and events.
The Irish Examiner has learnt that arrangements are being made for a visit by British Liberal Democrats leader Mr Clegg, who will be one of the first international dignitaries to meet the new President during a trip here in the coming weeks.
Labour, the government party Mr Higgins formally left when he was recently elected President, has closely monitored the Lib Dems’ coalition with the Tories in Britain.
Mr Higgins is expected to visit Britain at the end of January, in one of his first foreign tours.
In the meantime, guests are being lined up for Friday’s ceremony.
Young couples struggling with mortgages, the disabled, immigrants and the elderly are among those invited to attend events.
Mr Higgins will spend a moment of reflection in the James Connolly room when he arrives for the ceremony at Dublin Castle, an area where the 1916 Rising leader was held before he was executed.
A humanist will also attend the event, to reflect the inter-faith nature of the ceremony.
Besides the Taoiseach, Cabinet, TDs, judges, senior members of the army and senior civil servants who will attend the event, arrangements are being made to have citizens represented.
A number of pupils have been chosen to attend from schools from around the country.
Representatives of the African and Asian communities, among others, are also to attend to represent the new Irish.
Organisers have also asked members of the Irish Senior Citizens Party, groups for the disabled and a number of young people coping with housing and mortgage problems to attend.
Arrangements are also being made for Galway’s Cois Clada, a choir from the home city of Mr Higgins, to attend.
“He wants to represent the main concerns of the people, of all types of citizens,” said a source close to Mr Higgins.
A state reception will be held in Dublin Castle on the night of the inauguration.
