Visiting the President of Ireland

This day found WfaAR at Aras an Uachtarain, known locally as “the Aras” – the residence of the President of Ireland. The house and the formal gardens with trees planted by Queen Victoria and other British royal visitors, are open to the public every Saturday for six guided tours on a first come first serve basis (and they are very popular). The tours cover the formal state and reception rooms on the ground floor as well as an unrestricted gawk into the President’s working study. Formerly the residence of the Viceroy, the representative of the British monarch in Ireland, and later the Governor-General, the role of the grand house changed after the passing of the 1937 constitution which established Ireland as a republic. Intended for demolition, it was the temporary residence for the first President, Douglas Hyde, before being restored and extended as the permanent presidential residence. It was opened to the public in 1998. Most remarkable are the brightly coloured and almost casual portraits of the two female Presidents thus far, Mary Robinson 1990-1997 and Mary McAleese 1997-2011. This contrasts with our vice-regal residence at Yarralumla that is open to the public only on certain (few) days of the year and only associated with fund-raising or specific cultural events. WfaAR also noticed how crowded the galleries of Irish art were at the National Gallery of Ireland with keen attention being paid to works depicting the history of the Irish people. And the expression of sovereignty through the use of Gaelic as the first language on every sign and in every announcement.