Poet Becomes New Irish President In Landslide

Labour's Michael D Higgins has won a landslide victory in Ireland's presidential election.

He will succeed Mary McAleese when she steps down as Head of State next month.

The veteran politician, a former government minister, secured 40% of the vote. His nearest rival, Sean Gallagher telephoned the President Elect to concede defeat.

Mr Gallagher, a judge on Dragon's Den in Ireland, had been 15 points ahead until Martin McGuinness dropped a bombshell during the final televised debate last Monday night.

The Sinn Fein candidate publicly accused Mr Gallagher of soliciting and collecting a donation for Fianna Fail, the party Ireland voted out of government earlier this year.

McGuinness, a former IRA chief, finished in third place. He temporarily stood down as Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister to contest this election in the Republic.

The other candidates were Gay Mitchell, whose Fine Gael party heads the coalition government, and three independents: David Norris, Mary Davis and Dana Rosemary Scallon.

Michael D Higgins has already given a lifetime of public service to Ireland. The 70 year old is a champion of human rights, an Irish language enthusiast and a poet.

If he needs some advice on how to do the job, he can always ring the West Wing - Hollywood actor Martin Sheen describes Michael D Higgins as "a very dear friend".

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