President Mary McAleese's husband visited Orange Order leaders to discuss the plan to develop the site of the Battle of the Boyne as a major tourist attraction, it was revealed today.
Dr Martin McAleese accompanied Government officials to a meeting with Orange Grand Master Robert Saulters to update them on plans for the site at Drogheda, Co Louth.
The Government is spending more than €20 million on a major scheme at the site of the historic battle in 1690 at which Protestant William of Orange defeated his Catholic King James II in the fight for the English throne.
Orange Order parades each July 12th celebrate the victory in battle.
The scheme envisages a battlefield interpretative centre and other facilities that would make it one of the biggest tourist attractions on the island, and it is expected to draw over 100,000 visitors a year.
Dr McAleese was accompanied to the meeting at the HQ of the Orange Order, by Government official Niall Burgess; political director of the Anglo-Irish Division Peadar Carpenter; and Eugene Keane, Boyne project director.
Mr Saulters, who visited the site of the planned redevelopment last said he was pleased to welcomed the delegation.
"We have high hopes for the Boyne site and we have been working closely with the Irish Government to ensure that the historical exhibition there is put in context."