Emotions are high as President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina celebrate their dog Misneach’s final birthday at Áras an Uachtaráin.

This Friday, Ireland goes to the polls to elect the tenth President of Ireland, with President Higgins retiring from the post after serving the maximum two terms (14 years in total).

It’s the first time in a long-time there has only been two candidates in the race, with Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys and Independent Catherine Connolly vying for votes.

As the Higgins family enjoy their final days at the Áras it didn’t come without some celebrations by way of a fifth birthday for the President’s beloved dog, Misneach.

The 84-year-old has had Bernese Mountain dogs in the Áras since he took office in 2011, with Shadow the first, followed by Síoda and Bród.

Misneach is the remaining pup by Higgins’ side.

Taking to social media on Monday, the official President of Ireland account shared a series of photos of Misneach alongside a birthday card.

‘Happy 5th birthday Misneach! Lá breithle shona duit,’ the caption wrote, prompting an influx of birthday wishes from fellow social media users.

Many shared photos of their own canine companions extending well wishes, while others hoped the next President would be as much a dog lover as President Higgins.

One wrote: ‘Having a dog should be a requirement for President.’

Another said: ‘What an endearing post. I hope your successor will be similarly committed to our four legged friends.’

A third commented: ‘Lá breithle shona duit. Can we have a rule that an Irish President must have a dog to share with the nation… please.’

While it’s certainly the end of a chapter for the Higgins, Sabina appeared more excited about the prospect of taking a step back as she revealed their plans to return to Rahoon in Galway.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Nationwide, Sabina admitted: ‘I hope the West will be asleep and I will be sleeping luxuriously in its lap and I will be looking up for the beautiful Western sunsets and I will not have a bother in the world about what’s happening.’

Sabina added that President Higgins’ role has been ‘non-stop.’