On this day 38 years ago

Cearbhall O'Dalaigh was sworn in as the fifth President of the Irish Republic.

President O'Dalaigh center with Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave left.

Following the sudden death of President Erskine Childers, Mr Cearbhall O'Dalaigh was nominated by The Fianna Fail party as its candidate to replace him.

O'Dalaigh was a barrister by profession who had served as Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court from 1961- 1973. The Fine Gael /Labour coalition government did not oppose the nomination and Mr O'Dalaigh was elected unopposed on a joint party agreement.

President O' Dalaigh shakes hands with Chief Justice O'Higgins after being sworn in.

He resigned in controversial circumstances in October 1976 after the Minister for Defence publicly criticised his action in referring an emergency powers bill to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality.

An elderly Eamon DeValera pictured at the inauguration.

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New French Diaspora

France’s Prime Minister has expressed his displeasure at the country’s 'greedy rich' who have flocked to foreign climes in a bid to evade taxation laws in their own country. Jean-Marc Ayrault has lambasted his wealthy fellow nationals for their avarice. 

Those who are seeking exile abroad are not those who are scared of becoming poor … (but) … because they want to get even richer. We cannot fight poverty if those with the most, and sometimes with a lot, do not show solidarity and a bit of generosity. 

In 1968 French society was rocked to the core when students and others took to a more insurrectionary form of politics against the system of government overseen by President Charles De Gaulle.

Charles de Gaulle and President de Valera seated on a couch talking in Áras An Uachtarain 

In the summer of 1969, General Charles De Gaulle, the retired President of France visited Ireland. Accompanying De Gaulle was his wife Yvonne and his aide de camp Admiral Francois Flohic.

He was descended from the Irish clan of McCartan, on his mother’s side, De Gaulle's great-grandmother was Marie Angelique McCartan and he had a keen interest in Irish history.

He fulfilled a lifetime ambition to visit Ireland in 1969.

Former President De Gaulle plants a tree in the grounds of Áras an Uachtarain

General Charles de Gaulle with President Eamon De Valera at Áras an Uachtarain

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