There's overwhelming public support for the President's decision to turn down an invitation to a ceremony marking the partition of Ireland, a new poll has suggested.
More than four out of five voters say Michael D Higgins made the right call, according to a political poll by Ireland Thinks in today's Mail on Sunday.
The Mail on Sunday's executive editor John Lee says they asked people whether the President should have gone to the service - and the answer was clear.
He said: "13% of people said yes, and a massive 81% said no - not far away from mirroring the poll results he got in the last presidential election.
"His decision was controversial, and he was criticised by former taoiseach John Bruton.
"But he has come out tops of that among the Irish people - I think there is firm, firm support for Michael D's decision not to attend."
President Higgins made the decision as he believed the event had become too politicised.
Former taoiseach John Bruton initially claimed the President would have been in breach of the Constitution if he'd made the decision without first asking the Government.
However, it later emerged the President had in fact consulted the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Bruton said the matter had been clarified and the constitutional needs had been addressed.
