Bród, one of President Michael D Higgins’ Bernese Mountain Dogs, was confirmed to have passed away at age 11 last week.
According to Irish Mirror, sources at the Áras an Uachtaráin confirmed that Bród passed away “very peacefully” on April 22.
The President of Ireland, President Michael D Higgins, along with his wife, Sabina Coyne, have both confirmed the sad news on different social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitter and Instagram.
The post about Bród’s passing read, “Bród was a very much loved dog by all that met him and he enjoyed meeting with the thousands of members of the public who came to Áras an Uachtaráin over the years.”
Furthermore, the post acknowledged Bród’s paw-pularity and described him as “probably one of the most photographed dogs in Ireland.”
The post also highlights that Bród won’t just be missed by the President, Sabina and everyone at the Áras, but also by the President’s remaining Bernese Mountain Dog and his furry pal, Misneach.
They said Misneach “has shared his space with Bród over recent months and was his constant companion, aware of Bród’s situation and very attentive to him.”
Bród and Misneach have enjoyed their celebrity status since the President’s tenure due to their endearing behavior during state visits.
The paw-pular pair were even the talk of the town as recently as a few weeks ago when their “reluctant” welcome of US President Joe Biden during his visit to Áras an Uachtaráin went viral.
The Irish President had another Bernese Mountain Dog named Síoda, who Bród kept company until she also sadly passed away in September 2020 after a short illness.