Mary McAleese
President, Ireland, 1997 - present

Mary Patricia McAleese is the current President of Ireland. Before becoming president she was a barrister, journalist and academic. She is Ireland’s second female president and the world’s first woman to succeed another woman elected Head of State. Since 19 November 2005 she is the longest-serving current female elected Head of State. On May 2007 she was awarded The American Ireland Fund Humanitarian Award.