Editing Mary McAleese (section)

===Second term (2004–2011)===
{{Main|2004 Irish presidential election}}
McAleese's first seven-year term of office ended in November 2004, but she stood for a second term in the [[2004 Irish presidential election|2004 presidential election]]. Following the failure of any other candidate to secure the necessary support for nomination, the incumbent president stood unopposed, with no political party affiliation,<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 October 2004|title=McAleese to serve second term in office|website=[[RTÉ.ie]] |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1001/55042-president/|language=en|access-date=11 February 2020|archive-date=28 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928182007/https://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1001/55042-president/|url-status=live}}</ref> and was declared elected on 1 October 2004. She was re-inaugurated at the commencement of her second seven-year term on 11 November 2004. McAleese's very high approval ratings were widely seen as the reason for her re-election, with no opposition party willing to bear the cost (financial or political) of competing in an election that would prove difficult to win.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2004/0207/breaking4.html|title=President would defeat Higgins, poll shows|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=7 February 2004|access-date=28 December 2004|archive-date=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010165437/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2004/0207/breaking4.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 27 January 2005, following her attendance at the ceremony commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of [[Auschwitz concentration camp]], she created friction by referring to the way some Protestant children in Northern Ireland had been raised to hate Catholics, just as European children "for generations, for centuries" were encouraged to hate [[Jews]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=5&speech=43&lang=eng|title=Interview with President McAleese, Morning Ireland|work=president.ie|date=27 January 2005|access-date=11 June 2008|archive-date=17 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217232321/http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=5&speech=43&lang=eng|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4214263.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|title=McAleese row over Nazi comments|date=28 January 2005|access-date=18 February 2007|archive-date=29 June 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629101055/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4214263.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/?c=IRELAND&jp=kfidgbgbqlmh&d=2005-01-27|title=McAleese: Protestant children taught to hate Catholics|work=BreakingNews.ie|date=27 January 2005|access-date=1 September 2007|archive-date=14 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614131746/http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/?c=IRELAND&jp=kfidgbgbqlmh&d=2005-01-27|url-status=live}}</ref> These remarks provoked outrage among [[Unionism in Ireland|unionist politicians]]. McAleese later apologised,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4217545.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|title=McAleese 'sorry' over Nazi remark|date=29 January 2005|access-date=18 February 2007|archive-date=20 February 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220210713/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4217545.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> conceding that her comments had been unbalanced because she had criticised only the sectarianism found on one side of the community.
[[File:Mary McAleese and Dmitry Medvedev.jpeg|thumb|right|McAleese meets with [[President of Russia]] [[Dmitry Medvedev]] in 2010]]
She was the [[Commencement speech|Commencement Speaker]] at [[Villanova University]] in [[Villanova, Pennsylvania]], on 22 May 2005. The visit prompted protests by conservatives because of the president's professing [[heterodox]] Catholic views on homosexuality and women in the priesthood. She was the commencement speaker at the [[University of Notre Dame]] on 21 May 2006. In her commencement address, among other topics, she spoke of her pride at Notre Dame's Irish heritage, including the nickname the "[[Notre Dame Fighting Irish|Fighting Irish]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.nd.edu/news/mary-mcaleese-2006-commencement-address/|work=Notre Dame News|title=Mary McAleese 2006 Commencement address|date=24 May 2006|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803172654/https://news.nd.edu/news/mary-mcaleese-2006-commencement-address/|url-status=live}}</ref>

She attended the [[funeral of Pope John Paul II]] on 8 April 2005, and the Papal Inauguration of [[Pope Benedict XVI]] on 24 April 2005.

McAleese attended the canonisation by [[Pope Benedict XVI]] in Rome of [[Charles of Mount Argus]] on 3 June 2007.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kieron |last=Wood |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2007/05/27/story23952.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070812032258/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2007/05/27/story23952.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2007 |title=Charles of Mt Argus to be canonised in Rome next weekend |date=27 May 2007 |access-date=12 December 2009 |work=[[The Sunday Business Post]] }}</ref> She was accompanied by [[Martin McAleese|her husband, Martin]], Cardinal [[Desmond Connell]], [[Mary Hanafin]], the [[Minister for Education (Ireland)|Minister for Education and Science]], together with bishops and other pilgrims.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0603/mcaleese.html|title=Dublin gets new saint|date=3 June 2007|access-date=12 December 2009|work=[[RTÉ News]]|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024035038/http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0603/mcaleese.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She later met the Pope and embarked on other official duties, including a trip to [[St. Isidore's College]], a talk at the [[Pontifical Irish College]] and a [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] said especially for the Irish Embassy at Villa Spada chapel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2007/06/04/story34266.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714191014/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2007/06/04/story34266.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2012 |title=Pope canonises Blessed Charles |date=4 June 2007 |access-date=12 December 2009 |work=[[Irish Examiner]] }}</ref>

In August 2007, she spoke out against homophobia at the International Association of Suicide Prevention's 24th Biennial Conference.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=August 31, 2007 |title=Remarks by Mary McAleese, President of Ireland |journal=Crisis |volume=29 |pages=53–55 |doi=10.1027/0227-5910.29.1.53 |url=https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1027/0227-5910.29.1.53 |access-date=July 19, 2024}}</ref>

She paid a seven-day visit to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] in December 2008, alongside [[Enterprise Ireland]] and the [[Irish Film Board]] on a mission to promote the Irish film and television industry.<ref name="Star's welcome as President drops in"/> A reception held in her honour was attended by [[Ed Begley, Jr.]] and [[Fionnula Flanagan]].<ref name="Star's welcome as President drops in"/> She later met the [[Governor of California]], [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]].<ref name="Star's welcome as President drops in">{{cite news|first=Caitriona|last=Palmer|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/stars-welcome-as-president-drops-in-1577502.html|title=Star's welcome as President drops in|date=17 December 2008|access-date=21 December 2009|work=[[Irish Independent]]|archive-date=26 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426015015/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/stars-welcome-as-president-drops-in-1577502.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, [[Forbes]] named her among the hundred most powerful women in the world later that year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/11/power-women-09_The-100-Most-Powerful-Women_Rank_3.html|title=The 100 Most Powerful Women|work=Forbes.com|date=19 August 2009|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-date=28 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628231621/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/11/power-women-09_The-100-Most-Powerful-Women_Rank_3.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

McAleese undertook an official two-day visit to [[London]] on 28–29 February 2010, where she visited the site of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], and was guest of honour at the [[Madejski Stadium]] for a [[rugby union]] match between [[London Irish]] and [[Harlequin F.C.]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/mcaleese-to-view-2012-olympics-site-2074536.html|title=McAleese to view 2012 Olympics site|date=22 February 2010|access-date=22 February 2010|work=[[Irish Independent]]|archive-date=24 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224073013/http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/mcaleese-to-view-2012-olympics-site-2074536.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 13 May 2010, she attended the [[Balmoral Show]] at the [[Balmoral Showgrounds]], which includes the King's Hall, in south Belfast. [[Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland]] [[Martin McGuinness]] and [[Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs|Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister]] [[Michelle Gildernew]] gave her breakfast and walked around with her during the day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0513/mcaleesem.html|title=President hails 'profound transformation'|date=13 May 2010|access-date=13 May 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|archive-date=15 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515043023/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0513/mcaleesem.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

She began an official visit to [[New York City]] for several days, on 16 May 2010. She began by appearing at an ''[[Irish Voice]]'' event in honour of [[life science]].<ref name="President opens famine exhibition in NY"/> She then addressed business leaders at the [[New York Stock Exchange]] to say Irish people were "as mad as hell" over the [[2008–2011 Irish banking crisis|Irish banking crisis]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0521/mcaleese.html|title=McAleese: Irish 'mad as hell' over bank crisis|date=21 May 2010|access-date=21 May 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|archive-date=16 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616104817/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0521/mcaleese.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and opened the ''An Gorta Mór'' ([[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]]) exhibition with a speech promising that Ireland's foreign policy focussed on global hunger.<ref name="President opens famine exhibition in NY">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0522/mcaleese.html|title=President opens famine exhibition in NY|date=22 May 2010|access-date=22 May 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|archive-date=25 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525012543/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0522/mcaleese.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She was also present at [[St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York)|St. Patrick's Cathedral]] for a Famine mass and went to the [[Battery Park City]]'s [[Irish Hunger Memorial]] to see the official New York commemoration of the 19th-century Irish Famine.<ref name="President opens famine exhibition in NY"/> On 22 May 2010, she delivered the keynote address at [[Fordham University]]'s 165th Commencement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-05-26 |title=Commencement Address: Mary McAleese, President of Ireland |url=https://news.fordham.edu/uncategorized/commencement-address-mary-mcaleese-president-of-ireland/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Fordham Now |language=en-US}}</ref>

She opened the [[Bloom Festival]], Ireland's largest gardening show, on 3 June 2010, acknowledging an improved interest in gardening in Ireland, particularly among younger people.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0604/bloom.html|title=60,000 expected to visit Bloom Festival|date=4 June 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=4 June 2010|archive-date=7 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607153231/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0604/bloom.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 13 June 2010, McAleese began an official visit to [[China]]. She met with [[Vice President of the People's Republic of China|Vice President of China]] [[Xi Jinping]] and the pair spoke for 35 minutes over lunch.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0613/china.html|title=Mary McAleese on visit to China|date=13 June 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=13 June 2010|archive-date=15 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615002359/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0613/china.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Barack Obama and Mary McAleese 2011.jpg|240px|thumb|McAleese in discussion with [[US President]] [[Barack Obama]] at [[Áras an Uachtaráin]] on 23 May 2011]]
She made an official visit to [[Russia]], with [[Minister of State (Ireland)|Minister of State]], [[Billy Kelleher]], for four days in September 2010, and met with [[President of Russia]] [[Dmitry Medvedev]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0903/mcaleesem.html|title=Trade on agenda for President's Russia trip|date=3 September 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=3 September 2010|archive-date=4 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904134259/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0903/mcaleesem.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0907/mcaleese.html|title=President McAleese begins Russian visit|date=7 September 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=7 September 2010|archive-date=8 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908164812/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0907/mcaleese.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She spoke kindly of [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], officially invited Medvedev to Ireland, and addressed students at a university in [[Saint Petersburg]]. She called for warmer relations between the [[European Union]] and Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0908/mcaleese.html|title=McAleese pays tribute to Gorbachev|date=8 September 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=8 September 2010|archive-date=10 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100910180229/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0908/mcaleese.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0909/mcaleese.html|title=President invites Medvedev to Ireland|date=9 September 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=9 September 2010|archive-date=10 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100910180255/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0909/mcaleese.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0910/russia_mcaleese.html|title=More regulation needed, says McAleese|date=10 September 2010|work=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=10 September 2010|archive-date=12 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912233541/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0910/russia_mcaleese.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On her state tour to Russia, highlighting the importance of competence, she launched an unprecedented attack on the [[Central Bank of Ireland]], for their role in the financial crisis which resulted in tens of thousands of people in mortgage arrears.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/irish-president-mary-mcaleesersquos-astonishing-attack-over-irish-slump-14946185.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721092053/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/irish-president-mary-mcaleesersquos-astonishing-attack-over-irish-slump-14946185.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 July 2012 |title=Irish President Mary McAleese's astonishing attack over slump |newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=11 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mcaleese-hails-milestone-medvedev-talks-2335255.html|title=McAleese hails 'milestone' Medvedev talks|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=13 September 2010|first=Paul|last=Melia|access-date=27 September 2010|archive-date=25 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025012834/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mcaleese-hails-milestone-medvedev-talks-2335255.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The President turned down an invitation to be [[Grand Marshal]] at the 250th [[Saint Patrick's Day#New York City|St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City]] planned for 2011. The parade organisers refused to allow gay people to march under their banner, and there was media speculation that this was the reason for the refusal. A spokesperson for the President's office stated that, while honoured by the invitation, she could not attend because of "scheduling constraints".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mcaleese-turns-down-role-in-ny-st-patricks-parade-2349478.html|title=McAleese turns down role in NY St Patrick's parade|last=Black|first=Fergus|date=23 September 2010|work=[[Irish Independent]]|access-date=23 September 2010|archive-date=24 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924105908/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mcaleese-turns-down-role-in-ny-st-patricks-parade-2349478.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2011, President McAleese invited [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom]] to make a [[state visit]] to [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The Queen accepted, and [[Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland|the visit took place]] from 17 to 20 May 2011, the first state visit by a British monarch since Ireland had gained independence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12650584|work=[[BBC News]]|title=Queen to make first state visit to Irish Republic|date=4 March 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106032515/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12650584|url-status=live}}</ref> McAleese had been eager to have the Queen visit Ireland, and the event was widely welcomed as a historic success.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/queen-visit/queens-historic-visit-hailed-as-a-massive-success-2653749.html|title=Queen's historic visit hailed as a massive success|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=21 May 2011|first1=Ralph|last1=Riegel|first2=Lise|last2=Hand|first3=Tom|last3=Brady|access-date=3 June 2011|archive-date=25 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525221800/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/queen-visit/queens-historic-visit-hailed-as-a-massive-success-2653749.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/8524575/The-Queen-in-Ireland-visit-hailed-a-great-success.html|title=The Queen in Ireland: visit hailed a 'great success'|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=19 May 2011|location=London|access-date=2 April 2018|archive-date=5 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305080157/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/8524575/The-Queen-in-Ireland-visit-hailed-a-great-success.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0520/breaking3.html|title=Queen leaves Ireland after historic four-day State visit|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=20 May 2011|first=Eoin|last=Burke-Kennedy|access-date=3 June 2011|archive-date=23 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523003212/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0520/breaking3.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In past media interviews, prior to the Queen's visit, President McAleese had stated on several occasions that the highlight of her presidency to date was the opening ceremony of the [[2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games|2003 Special Olympics World Games]], which she describes as "a time when Ireland was at its superb best".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/her-bridges-built-mcaleese-reflects-on-a-decade-in-office-1210372.html|title=Her bridges built, McAleese reflects on a decade in office|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=3 November 2007|first=Fiona|last=Bradyand|access-date=3 June 2011|archive-date=2 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102174648/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/her-bridges-built-mcaleese-reflects-on-a-decade-in-office-1210372.html|url-status=live}}</ref> While opening the [[National Ploughing Championships]] in [[County Kildare]] in September 2011, she spoke of her sadness that she would soon no longer be president, saying: "I'm going to miss it terribly ... I'll miss the people and the engagement with them".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/mcaleese-ill-miss-the-people-aspect-of-presidency-521281.html|title=McAleese: I'll miss the people aspect of Presidency|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|date=20 September 2011|access-date=16 October 2011|archive-date=24 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524082315/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/mcaleese-ill-miss-the-people-aspect-of-presidency-521281.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newstalk.ie/2011/news/6mcaleese-admits-she-will-be-sad-at-end-of-term75/|title=McAleese admits she will be sad at end of term|work=[[Newstalk]]|date=20 September 2011}}</ref>

Mary McAleese made her final overseas visit as head of state to Lebanon in October 2011, the location of her very first official overseas visit in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1016/mcaleesem.html|title=Mary McAleese concludes final overseas tour|work=[[RTÉ News]]|date=16 October 2011|access-date=16 October 2011|archive-date=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017051454/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1016/mcaleesem.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/last-official-trip-abroad-for-mary-mcaleese-523880.html|title=Last official trip abroad for Mary McAleese|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|date=11 October 2011|access-date=16 October 2011|archive-date=24 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524094450/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/last-official-trip-abroad-for-mary-mcaleese-523880.html|url-status=live}}</ref> While there she met with [[Lebanese President]] [[Michel Suleiman]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/mcaleese-to-meet-irish-troops-in-lebanon-on-final-official-trip-254479-Oct2011/|title=McAleese to meet Irish troops in Lebanon on final official trip|work=TheJournal.ie|date=15 October 2011|access-date=16 October 2011|archive-date=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017171818/http://www.thejournal.ie/mcaleese-to-meet-irish-troops-in-lebanon-on-final-official-trip-254479-Oct2011/|url-status=live}}</ref> Before her trip to Lebanon she visited [[Derry]], on one of her last official engagements to Northern Ireland, becoming the inaugural speaker at the first Conversations Across Walls and Borders event in First Derry [[Presbyterian Church]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15195650|title=Irish President Mary McAleese to visit Londonderry|work=[[BBC News]]|date=6 October 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=10 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110150035/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15195650|url-status=live}}</ref> She voluntarily donated more than 60 gifts given to her over the 14 years, and worth about €100,000, to the Irish state.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1026/mcaleesem.html|title=President McAleese to donate gifts to State|work=[[RTÉ News]]|date=26 October 2011|access-date=26 October 2011|archive-date=27 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027090943/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1026/mcaleesem.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

McAleese left office on 10 November 2011; she was succeeded by [[Michael D. Higgins]], who had been elected in the [[2011 Irish presidential election|presidential election]] held on 27 October 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/presidential-election/its-official-michael-d-higgins-is-elected-as-irelands-next-president-with-over-1m-votes-2920924.html|title=It's official: Michael D Higgins is elected as Ireland's next president with over 1m votes|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=29 October 2011|access-date=29 October 2011|archive-date=31 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031091653/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/presidential-election/its-official-michael-d-higgins-is-elected-as-irelands-next-president-with-over-1m-votes-2920924.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 10 November 2011, her last day in office, she thanked Ireland for her two terms in an article in ''[[The Irish Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/1110/1224307310313.html|title=My personal thanks to Ireland|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=10 November 2011|access-date=10 November 2011|archive-date=10 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110150622/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/1110/1224307310313.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She performed her last official public engagement at a hostel for homeless men in Dublin in the morning and spent the afternoon moving out of Áras an Uachtaráin.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1109/308502-president/|title=Mary McAleese 'loved every day' as President|work=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=10 November 2011|date=10 November 2011|archive-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512213434/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1109/308502-president/|url-status=live}}</ref>