A drumroll, a fanfare and a 21-gun salute will feature in the inauguration of Mrs Mary McAleese as President today. The drums will roll in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle after Mrs McAleese signs the declaration. At the moment she becomes President the presidential standard will be hoisted over the State Apartments at Dublin Castle and Aras an Uachtarain.
The salute will be fired from the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham and soon afterwards the eating and drinking will begin.
Mrs McAleese will take office in a caramel coat and suit by Armagh designer Miriam Mone. The wool and cashmere coat will be trimmed with fake fur and the suit will be velvet.
In the only break with tradition expected, the President will be congratulated by 25 men, women and children representing groups which she felt "should be recognised and celebrated".
The lineup includes representatives of two of the most reviled professions in the State: politicians (represented by Senator Margaret Cox) and journalists, (represented by Sunday Tribune writer Nell McCafferty). That other most-disliked professional - the lawyer - is not represented.
About 130 people are expected to pull up their chairs to lunch at the Aras. They will include Mr Charles Haughey and his wife Maureen. He is being invited as a member of the Council of State.
Mr Albert Reynolds, also a member of the Council, will not be attending.
The former president, Mrs Mary Robinson, will attend. She will give a speech at Oxford University tonight. A spokesman could not comment on speculation that Mrs Robinson will also meet Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during her visit.
Mrs McAleese, by then President McAleese, will host a reception for friends and campaigners at the Aras later in the afternoon and a firework display will be given over the Phoenix Park at 6.30 p.m. She will return to Dublin Castle for a State reception given by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, tonight.
There she will wear a silk and velvet wrapover dress by Mary Gregory, with the words of a Christopher Logue poem in Armagh script. It reads:-
Come to the Edge, We might fall, Come to the Edge, It's too high, Come to the Edge, and they came, and he pushed, and they flew."
Editorial comment: page 15 Inauguration details: page 3
