The former US president, Mr Bill Clinton, is returning to Ireland for a round of ceremonies to honour him, writes Gillian Ni Cheallaigh.
Mr Clinton, who is visiting primarily at the invitation of Sir Anthony O'Reilly to deliver the eighth annual Independent lecture, is due to arrive at Shannon Airport tomorrow. It is believed that his daughter, Chelsea, will accompany him. His wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, is not expected.
As a private citizen, Mr Clinton will not be surrounded by the army of security agents who accompanied him on his previous visits to Ireland. His arrival will be preceded by a small advance group of his staff. He will be greeted on Sunday evening at Dromoland Castle and is due to travel to Dublin on Monday.
Mr Clinton's official engagements include a brief visit to Aras an Uachtarain on Monday morning to meet the President, Mrs McAleese. On Monday evening he will deliver the Independent lecture in Trinity College, Dublin. He will meet the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, privately on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Clinton will be guest of honour at a gala event in Dublin Castle on Tuesday evening in recognition of his contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process. The dinner will be attended by the Taoiseach and Senator George Mitchell and by 200 guests drawn from the business community, the entertainment world and public life who are each paying £1,000 to attend the function. All funds raised will be donated to the Northern Ireland Fund for Reconciliation.
The former president will then travel to Belfast, where on Thursday he will receive an honorary Doctorate of Law from Queen's University, Belfast, to mark his services to the promotion of peace in Northern Ireland.