This week, he will formally hand over the reins as leader of the State when president-elect Catherine Connolly is inaugurated as the newest first citizen of Ireland. What legacy does President Higgins leave behind? Where does he go next? And what are the biggest wins and losses of his time in Áras an Uachtaráin?
As Catherine Connolly prepares to take over as Uachtarán na hÉireann after Tuesday's inauguration at Dublin Castle, questions have been raised again about the amount of money it takes to maintain the presidency. Running costs during her first year in the Áras are expected to exceed €6m, a sum that covers myriad expenses, including travel, gifts and food and drink for the many events that any president hosts.
Former Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cúiv has said he has not made a decision "one way or the other" about running in the Galway West by-election, while local councillor Noel Thomas will contest the race for Independent Ireland.
Rival Heather Humphreys trailing behind in pre-election poll, but over-65s back her Young voters are on course to send Catherine Connolly to Áras an Uachtaráin if they turn out at the polls today. New polling data shows the Galway woman has a massive lead over her rival among voters under 34. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news
At least six debates have taken place in this presidential election, and we've lost count of the number of interviews. Yet Catherine Connolly has still not answered a key question about her trip to Syria in 2018: who organised it? The latest round of questions was with Gavin Jennings on RTÉ's Morning Ireland and followed revelations that she met a militia leader who was a supporter of the Assad regime and had been linked to crimes against Palestinian refugees.
