The Irish president is recognised by the public as an important symbol of unity and identity.
There is strong attachment to the office as represented by the high approval ratings for Michael D Higgins, about to finish his second term, and the heightened interested in who will succeed him as the 10th president.
The office of president was one of the innovations in the new Constitution in 1937. There were mixed views about having a president. Some were concerned that Éamon de Valera was establishing the presidency so that he could assume dictatorial rule, which w
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