Inauguration Address by President Sean T. O’Ceallaigh 25th June 1945, Dublin Castle
A Thaoisigh Uasail, tá mé fíor-bhuidheach díot as ucht na bhfocal cineáltais atá ráidhte agat, agus do gach aoinne atá annso mar gheall ar theacht chun a dheagh-mhéinn a theasbáint dom. Is mór an t-ádhbhar sóláis agus misnigh dom an deagh-mhéinn sin do bheith agam agus mé ag dul i mbun Uachtaránachta na hÉireann. Ta mé buidheach ó chroídhe do mhuinntir na hÉireann a thug dom an onóir is mó atá ina gcumas. Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall chun ná beidh cathú orthu choídhche dá bharr.
Ar ócáid mar seo is cóir dúinn, thar gach nidh eile, ár mbuíochas do ghabháil le Dia na Glóire. Eisean do thug ár muinntir tríd an daorbhruid chun áit shábhála agus onóra i measc cinidheacha an domhain. Muna mbéadh a lámh uile-chomhachtach ag cabhrú linn, ní bhéadh in ár gcumas Rialtas ná Uachtarán do thoghadh. Eisean do tharrtháil agus do shaor sinn. Moladh go deo leis!
Maidir liom féin, déanfaidh mé, le cugnaimh Dé, mo dhualgaisí mar Uachtarán do chomhlíonadh go dílis dúthrachtach do réir Bunreachta na hÉireann. Tá mé ag braith ar chabhair ón Rialtas agus ó gach dream sa Stát ins an obair, agus is deimhin liom ná teipfidh said orm. Ag comhoibriú le chéile dhúinn, tá súil agam go bhféadfaimíd mórán a dhéanamh chun an tír a chur ar a leas.
Ba chúis áthais dom an teachtaireacht a chuir mo chara uasal Dubhglas de hÍde chugham. Gabhaim buidheachas leis. Geallaim dó go mbeidh in a phríomh-chuspóir agam an fhaid a bheidh mé im ‘Uachtarán a theagasc féin do chur i bhfeidhm agus a shampla do leanúint maidir le teangain na hÉireann. Go mairidh sé i bhfad in ár measc fé shéan agus fé ghradam!
{* Taoiseach, I thank you deeply for the kind words you have spoken, and I thank you all here for having come to show your goodwill towards me. That goodwill is a source of comfort and encouragement to me on my entry into office as President of Ireland. From my heart I am grateful to the people of Ireland, who have conferred upon me the highest honour in their power. It will always be my aim to be worthy of their trust.
We ought, above all, on an occasion like this, to give thanks to Almighty God. It is He who has brought our community through bondage to a secure and honoured place amongst the peoples of the world . Without the help of His all-powerful hand it would not be in our power to elect either a Government of a President. It is He who preserved us and set us free. May He be praised forever.
As for myself, I will, with God’s help, fulfil my duties as President faithfully and zealously according to the Constitution of Ireland. I am counting upon help in my task from the Government and from every section of the people, and I am certain that they will not deny it to me . Co-operating together, I hope that we shall be able to do great things for Ireland.
The message from my noble friend, Dr. Douglas Hyde, is a cause of joy to me. I thank him. I promise him that it will be a primary purpose of mine while I am President to put his teaching into effect and to follow his example, especially with regard to the Irish language. May he live long in our midst in happiness and honour.}