Mary McAleese

MARY McALEESE President of Ireland Rank: 8th Term of Office: 11 November 1997 - present Number of Terms: 1 to date Predecessor: Mary Robinson Successor: - Husband: Martin McAleese Profession: Pro-Vice Chancellor QUB[?], journalist Nominated by: Fianna Fáil Other candidates: Fine Gael: Mary Banotti, MEP Labour: Adi Roche Independent - Dana Rosemary Scallon Independent - Derek Nally

She succeeded Mary Robinson in November 1997. A Northern Ireland nationalist, she is a regular visitor to Northern Ireland, where she has been warmly welcomed by both communities. She is also an admirer of Queen Elizabeth II, whom she came to know when she was Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queens University in Belfast. She hopes to host a royal visit to Ireland during her term of office.

Her first term finishes in November 2004. She has given no indication as to whether she will seek a second term. Given the announcement of the Labour Party that it will run a candidate against her, and the interest expressed by a number of independent candidates, including potential independent candidate Kevin Lee, it would appear unlikely that she would want to seek a second term.

She is married to Martin McAleese. Her official residence is Áras an Uachtaráin, Phoenix Park, Dublin 7, Republic of Ireland.

Previously she was:

• Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queens University Belfast[?],
• Fianna Fáil candidate, 1987 general election
• Reporter/Presenter, Today Tonight, RTÉ (Radio Telifís Éireann)
• Reid Professor of Law, Trinity College Dublin (University of Dublin)
• An advisor to the Irish Roman Catholic Bishops during the New Ireland Forum[?]
• Founder with Senator David Norris of the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform.