People of Ireland pay heartwarming tribute to President Michael D Higgins' beloved dog Síoda
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People of Ireland pay heartwarming tribute to President Michael D Higgins' beloved dog Síoda

PEOPLE ACROSS Ireland have paid tribute to President Michael D Higgins’ beloved dog Síoda, following her sad passing last week. 

Síoda was one of two Bernese Mountain dogs the President of Ireland owned, along with Brod.  

Her sad death following a short illness was confirmed by Áras an Uachtaráin. 

A celebrity in her own right, Síoda brought joy to countless millions with her appearances alongside President Higgins, where she made quite an impression on visiting dignitaries. 

Síoda and Bron were a much-loved presence together at Phoenix Park and even spawned a string of unofficial social media accounts. 

More importantly, she was a source of comfort and emotional support for the President of Ireland, particularly during these testing times. 

In the wake of her death, fellow dog-lovers across Ireland were eager to pay tribute and send a message of support to Higgins during what is a difficult time for any pet owner. 

The result was the #NosesForSíoda hashtag, an impromptu online campaign which saw pooch owners sharing adorable pictures of their hairy pals on Twitter. 

It wasn’t long before the hashtag began trending on Twitter in Ireland with thousands of dog lovers coming together to share pictures of their own adorable canine companions. 

One dog owner, Hazel Nolan, summed up the mood perfectly with her tribute.

"It hurts so much to say a final farewell to a four-legged member of the family," she wrote.

"We’re better for the unconditional love they give, this year more than ever. So grateful for this one."

The result was something special. A touching moment in these testing times and a show of appreciation and remembrance for a man who had been a pillar of strength for Ireland. 

It also offered a fantastic array of pictures featuring dogs of every shape, size and persuasion. 

Pictures both personal and universal and another reminder that we're all in this together.