Áras an Uachtaráin the residence of the President of Ireland opens to the public for the first time.
Members of the public can now see how the president lives, courtesy of President Mary McAleese, who has implemented public tours of Áras an Uachtaráin with the Office of Public Works.
President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin welcomed the very first visitors to the Áras this morning. Carmel Watts, had organised today's tour for her husband Stephen’s seventieth birthday but to be welcomed by the president was surprising bonus. Stephen Watts says of the meeting,
I’m privileged. It’s wonderful.
The tours which take around forty five minutes depart from the nearby Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. Visitors can view the state rooms, the chandelier commissioned to mark the Act of Union and the phoenix rising from the carpet.
Carmel Watts tells RTÉ News that her visit has been most enjoyable,
Very beautiful...could spend seven years here.
There has been huge public interest in the tours, but as each one can only accommodate twenty people, queues are to be expected. Online tours are also available.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 19 April 1998. The reporter is Anne Marie Smyth.
