President Higgins Departs on First State Visit to The United Kingdom
Date: Mon 7th Apr, 2014 | 14:14
President Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Sabina Higgins, will depart today (Monday, 7th April) on the first State Visit by a President of Ireland to the United Kingdom. Full military honours will be rendered on departure from Áras an Uachtaráin at 2.30pm.
The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Conor O’ Boyle and General Officer Commanding 2 Brigade, Brigadier General Michael Beary will escort the President to the Saluting Position.
A Guard of Honour will be provided at Áras na Uachtaráin by the 12th Infantry Battalion under the command of Captain Ian O’Brien. Captain Fergal Carroll will conduct the Army No. 1 Band who will play the Presidential Salute.
The official Farewell Party will include Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Ms Francis Fitzgerald TD, Mr Loughlin Quinn, Deputy Secretary General to the President, Mr Philip Hamell, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr Niall Burgess, Director General of the Anglo Irish Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Fintan Fanning, Assistant Commissioner of An Garda Siochána, Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Conor O’Boyle and Brigadier General Michael Beary.
The President will be escorted to Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnell by an Escort of Honour under the command of Captain Conor Glynn.
The President and Sabina, accompanied by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Eamon Gilmore TD and his wife, Ms Carol Hanney, will depart Baldonnell for London at 4pm.