In Pictures: Change at the top for Ireland with new president and Taoiseach

President Michael D Higgins receives Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin, ahead of her inauguration as the 10th President of Ireland. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The year started with Micheál Martin becoming Taoiseach again after agreement was reached following a strong performance by his Fianna Fáil party in the November 2024 elections.

It ended with Catherine Connolly taking office as president after long-serving predecessor Michael D Higgins ended his term at Áras an Uachtaráin. That followed a year in which foreign policy took an unusually high profile in the political discourse for the traditionally neutral nation.