Irish President Michael D. Higgins has returned to Áras an Uachtaráin, his official residence, following a brief hospitalization to address a localized infection. On Sunday, President Higgins was admitted to St James’s Hospital in Dublin as part of a prearranged medical evaluation. A spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that the president underwent a successful course of antibiotics to treat the condition. In a statement, President Higgins expressed his gratitude to the medical team for their care and thanked the public for their well-wishes during his hospital stay. President Higgins will continue his duties until November 11, when Catherine Connolly, his successor, is inaugurated at Dublin Castle. Connolly, an independent member of the Irish parliament, secured a historic 63% of first-preference votes in the recent presidential election, marking a record in Irish electoral history. However, the unprecedented number of spoiled votes, totaling 213,738, has sparked discussions among politicians about the need for electoral reform. Connolly was officially declared the 10th President of the Republic of Ireland on Saturday evening after defeating Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys.