THE BLUFFER'S GUIDE

Irish presidents

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IT'S the Irish presidential election this weekend, so let's take a look at some facts and figures about the role.

ONLY Irish citizens who normally live in the Republic can vote; those living abroad or in Northern Ireland cannot.

The president serves a term of seven years and can only be in office for two terms.

Michael D Higgins, inset, has been president since 2011 and his reelection in 2018 saw him win the biggest personal mandate in Irish history.

Higgins is the ninth president of Ireland.

The first was Douglas Hyde, inaugurated on June 26, 1938. Hyde sent Germany a message of condolence on the death of Hitler in 1945. The third president was Eamon De Valera, who was born in New York as George de Valero.