Editing President of Ireland (section)

===Civic functions===
;Acts as Patron of Clans of Ireland: The president is patron of [[Clans of Ireland]], including its Order of Merit, since he so agreed in January 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.clansofireland.ie/baile/Patron | website =  clansofireland.ie | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130726010549/http://www.clansofireland.ie/baile/Patron|archive-date=26 July 2013 | title = Patron }}</ref>
;Awards the dignity of Saoi for life: The president confers the title of [[Saoi]] for life on those so elected from among the existing membership of [[Aosdána]], a state-supported association of Irish creative artists. The title is the highest honour bestowed by the organization. There are at most seven living Saoithe at any time;<ref name=saoi>{{cite web |title=Saoi Award and Nomination Process |url=http://aosdana.artscouncil.ie/Saoi.aspx |access-date=2008-05-13 }}</ref> a limit increased from five in 2007–08.<ref name="pr20070711">{{cite web|url=http://www.artscouncil.ie/News/President-of-Ireland-Mary-McAleese-honours-the-artist-Patrick-Scott-at-a-special-Aosdana-ceremony/|title=President of Ireland Mary McAleese honours the artist Patrick Scott at a special Aosdána ceremony|date=11 July 2007|publisher=Arts Council of Ireland|access-date=5 February 2015|quote=Members of Aosdána may receive this honour of distinction in the arts, known as Saoi, and not more than five artists may hold this honour at any one time.}}</ref>
;Supports various charities: The president serves as a patron to myriad charities in Ireland. The charities ultimately supported vary from president to president and are in keeping with the president's vision and theme for their presidency.