McAleese, Mary Patricia (1951– )

Irish lawyer and academic, president from 1997. When President Mary Robinson announced her resignation, McAleese was nominated by the ruling Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats as their candidate in preference to former prime minister Albert Reynolds. She asserted her opposition to violence and secured a clear victory over the Fine Gael nominated candidate, Mary Bannotti, to become the first female to succeed another female as elected head of state. She was also the first person born in Northern Ireland to be Irish president. She was re-elected unopposed in 2004.

Born in Belfast, a Roman Catholic, she studied law at Queen's University, Belfast, and the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland. She held academic posts at Trinity College, Dublin 1975–87 before becoming Pro-Vice-Chancellor 1994–97 at Queen's University, Belfast.