[caption id="attachment_67990" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="On his inauguration day, Ireland's new president inspected a guard of honor."]
Irish president Michael D. Higgins has carried out his first official duty as the new head of state by laying a wreath at the Remembrance Sunday service in Dublin this past weekend.
The president, who was inaugurated two days previously, attended the event at St. Patrick's Cathedral to pay his respects to the 10,000 Irish soldiers killed in the two world wars.
In an address to the congregation, journalist and military historian Kevin Myers spoke of the significance of the president's attendance.
"I begin today by honoring our new president, the commander-in-chief of our defense forces. Mr President, that is surely an honor you will hold closest to your heart and in this place especially," he said.
President Higgins greeted members of the public on his way in and out of the cathedral. Following hymns and a welcome by St. Patrick's Dean, the Very Reverend Robert McCarthy, Higgins laid a wreath of poppies at the foot of the cathedral's war memorial. A small number of surviving World War II soldiers were in attendance.
In his address, Myers spoke of Irish soldiers and nurses who were killed during the wars.
"Those Irish soldiers helped to end a regime of gas chambers and the guillotine, slavery and the firing squad," he said.
"In those liberated lands in due course emerged what is now the European Union. Our bondholders there might be completely unaware of the debt that they owe the 10,000 Irish dead, who died freeing an un-free Europe.
"But at least we in this cathedral do know it and we do remember, which is why we are here today."
Following the service, President Higgins made good on his pledge to continue his predecessor Mary McAleese's bridge-building efforts with Northern Ireland as he made his first official trip north of the border, traveling to Derry for the finals of the All-Island School Choir of the Year awards.
The event in the city's Millennium Forum was won by Wesley College from Dublin.
"I am delighted to join you here tonight and to have had the privilege of enjoying such beautiful choral performances," said President Higgins.
"Hans Christian Anderson said that where words fail, music speaks. It has been inspiring to witness the final performances but every participating choir in this competition has shown the wonderful talent and teamwork that enabled each and every one of them to represent their school to the very, very best of their ability," he said.
