Irish Examiner view: Cultural high water mark for Gaeilge

New President Catherine Connolly is in tune with the flourishing of the language and its adoption by the younger generation

Newly inaugurated Irish President Catherine Connolly made a strong pledge to use Irish while in office — in fact, to use it as a working language of the Áras. It was a significant statement, given that Ms Connolly’s fluency as Gaeilge was contrasted with the lack of ability in Irish of her opponents in the election, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin. Picture: Clodagh Kilcoyne/AFP/Getty 

After the battering and bruising in the campaign we witnessed in recent weeks, yesterday’s inauguration of our 10th President came as a welcome respite.

Catherine Connolly was sworn in at St Patrick’s Hall in Dublin, where all our presidents have been inaugurated since 1938. The ceremony, which began with a service of prayer and reflection, was attended by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, members of the judiciary, politicians from all parties, as well as former presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson.