PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina are mourning the death of one of the couple's two beloved dogs.
The Bernese Mountain dog Síoda died following a short illness, the president said.
Along with Brod, a male of the same breed, Síoda charmed scores of special guests to the president's residence in Dublin, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who visited Ireland in 2018.
The dogs have an unofficial Twitter fan page with more than 18,000 followers.
The news was first released in an Áras an Uachtaráin newsletter, which said “sadly we must report that Síoda has passed away after a short illness”.
The pair of dogs have been a popular feature at garden parties and events hosted by President Higgins, mingling among guests, who often endeavour to get their photograph taken alongside one of the beloved canines.
Speaking previously about his dogs, Mr Higgins said: "The dogs are not merely icebreakers, they’re also a great source of wisdom, and they must be protected from the stresses of the Anthropocene."
The president previously had another Bernese Mountain dog called Shadow during his earlier years in the Phoenix Park official residence.
During the 2018 presidential election, independent candidate Peter Casey questioned his expenses in office, claiming “your dog grooming bills are paid for” during a radio debate.
The president’s campaign later clarified that all costs of the dogs’ upkeep were met from his own funds.
