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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories President Michael D. Higgins receives Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin ahead of her inauguration as the tenth President of IrelandMaxwell's End of an era In Pictures: President Michael D Higgins’s 14 years in office President Micheal D Higgins leaves Áras an Uachtaráin as a figure who has inspired memes and tea cosies. 4.11pm, 10 Nov 2025 Share options AT MIDNIGHT, PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins’s term in office will come to an end. Tomorrow, Catherine Connolly will be officially inaugurated as the tenth President of Ireland after a landslide election victory last month. The two met in Áras an Uachtaráin last week and President Higgins wished President-elect Connolly “health and happiness”. Today, ahead of his term coming to an end, President Higgins and his wife Sabina thanked the many members of the public who have written to them to wish them well as the President tonight completes his term of office. And as President Higgins’s 14-year stint in the Áras draws to a close, we take a look back at a presidency that has also inspired memes and tea cosies. While this year’s presidential election only featured three candidates (and this became two after Jim Gavin’s withdrawal) it was a larger affair in 2011. There were seven candidates in the field and while opinion polls had Seán Gallagher out in front, it was President Higgins who won the election. The seven-strong presidential election field back in 2011, with President Higgins on the rightAlamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Here he is celebrating after his election victory was announced in Dublin Castle in 2011. The turnout was 56% and President Higgins gained close to 40% of the first preference votes. Michael D Higgins waves after his election victory is announced at Dublin Castle on 29 October, 2011Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo And on 11 November, 2011 he was officially inaugurated as President of Ireland in a ceremony at Dublin Castle, taking over from Mary McAleese. President Higgins, right, inspects Irish Army Guard of Honour after his inauguration ceremony as Ireland's ninth president at Dublin Castle on 11 Nov., 2011.Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo He and his wife Sabina were joined in Áras an Uachtaráin by a cast of Bernese Mountain dogs, who soon became a beloved fixture at the Aras, greeting dignitaries and interrupting events in pursuit of belly rubs. Here he is with Germany president Frank-Walter Steinmeier in 2021 with Bród and Misneach. Germany President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (l) and his wife Elke Budenbender walk together with President Higgins and his wife Sabina and the Bernese mountain dogs on 27 Oct., 2021Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Bród died in April 2023, aged 11. Yesterday, members of the public gathered outside Áras an Uachtaráin with their Bernese Mountain Dogs to wish President Higgins, Sabina and Misneach well ahead of the conclusion of the President’s term. Impromptu tribute to President Higgins on his way to Remembrance Sunday service by Bernaise and other dog owners. Fitting tribute to great president. @PresidentIRL pic.twitter.com/vk1KmwhELc— conor power (@thatpower) November 9, 2025 His first term also saw some milestones in Anglo-Irish relations, and in April 2014 he became the first President of Ireland to make a state visit to the United Kingdom, during which he delivered an historic address at Westminster. Later that day, in his toast during a state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle he described the trip as “a very visible sign of the warmth and maturity of the relationship between our two countries”. Sabina Coyne, President Higgins, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attend State Banquet at Windsor Castle on8 April, 2014Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In 2018, he welcomed Pope Francis to Áras an Uachtaráin during the first papal visit to Ireland in 40 years. Pope Francis, right, with President Higgins upon his arrival at Áras an Uachtaráin on 25 Aug., 2018Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Higgins told the pontiff of the anger felt by those in Ireland who were abused as children by Catholic clerics. The two met on five occasions and during a trip to the Vatican in 2021, the late Francis said of President Higgins: “Today I did not just meet a man, a President, I met a wise man of today. I thank God that Ireland has such a wise man as its head.” Advertisement Below are the two after their last meeting at the Vatican in 2023. Pope Francis receiving President Higgins in a private audience in Vatican City on 19 Oct., 2023.Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo As his first term came to an end in 2018, he announced he would seek a second despite previously saying he would not run again. President Higgins stood as an independent candidate but was backed by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour, who agreed not to field their own candidates. He instead faced a Sinn Féin candidate and four independents but won with 55% of the vote. Here he is hugging his wife Sabina after being re-elected on 27 October, 2018. President Higgins hugs his wife Sabina Coyne after he was re-elected on 27 Oct., 2018.Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo And around two weeks later, he was inaugurated as president for a second time. President Michael D Higgins inaugurated for a second term of office at Dublin Castle on 11 Nov., 2018Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In February 2024 when he was 82, President Higgins spent over a week in hospital for what was later revealed to be a mild stroke. He cut back on public appearances for a number of weeks and was later seen in public using two walking sticks. The final few weeks of his presidency involved another hospital stay, this time to treat an infection. His last public appearance as president took place yesterday with his attendance at the annual Service of Remembrance at St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin. The Remembrance Sunday Service in St Patrick’s was among his very first public engagements following his election to his first term in office in 2011. Irish flag dipped in respect as President Higgins leaves St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin after attending Remembrance Sunday service on his second to last day in office.Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo President Higgins and his wife intend to return to Galway following 14 years at Áras an Uachtaráin. Last week, he invited Connolly and her family to Áras an Uachtaráin ahead of her inauguration tomorrow. The pair have a somewhat complicated history after Connolly left the Labour Party when it opted to run just one candidate in the Galway West constituency for the 2007 general election, where Higgins was a sitting TD. However, the reception last week was warm and marked with smiles and laughter, with President Higgins wishing Connolly “health and happiness”. President Higgins and Sabina with President Elect Catherine Connolly and her husband Brian McEnery in Áras an UachtaráinMaxwell's But perhaps one of the enduring images of President Higgins’s time in office will be the 2016 image of him perched on a BMX as two young men on either side of him prepare to whoosh down a halfpipe. Michael Donnelly, a freelance photographer based in Co. Kildare, told The Journal back in 2017 that no media outlet took him up on the opportunity to feature the image in its publication. But he knew himself that he had something special on his hands; he shared the image on Facebook and it quickly spread like wildfire. Famous 2016 image of President Higgins on a BMXMichael Donnelly Photography Studio / Facebook Michael Donnelly Photography Studio / Facebook / Facebook President Michael D Higgins also became immortalised as President Michael ‘Tea’ Higgins thanks to a popular tea cosy bearing his image. Susan Banks from Tallaght is among those who make the tea cosies and she has already been inundated with requests for President Catherine Connoll-Tea. Catherine Connoll-Tea in the back with President Michael 'Tea' HigginsSusan Banks Susan Banks Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. 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Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Áras an Uachataráin Catherine Connolly End of an era In Pictures Michael D Higgins president michael d higgins Child who died in 2021 had injuries associated with traffic collisions or punching and kicking 28 mins ago Man (60s) in critical condition after being discovered with serious injuries in Co Longford 32 mins ago Third bird flu outbreak confirmed on commercial turkey farm in less than a week 46 mins ago Trump threatens billion-dollar legal action against the BBC over speech edit, as chairman apologises sean mcgovern Kinahan associate gave no information on how he afforded Dubai lifestyle, court told Central Criminal Court Man who sexually assaulted woman while walking her home jailed for four years DUP absence from Connolly inauguration 'not a snub', says party leader BBC director general Tim Davie resigns after criticism of Trump documentary edit Weather Warning Status Yellow rain warning to come into force for eight counties tomorrow Investigation after attack on 13-year-old boy from Bangladeshi community is recorded and shared online Man arrested following Ballyhale Shamrocks v Kilcormac-Killoughey club hurling clash more from us Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. 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