MICHAEL D HIGGINS has left the country for an official visit to Central America.
During the 12-day trip, the president will spend time in Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica. He left from Dublin Airport just after 9.30am today.
On his first official duty, he will lay a wreath at the memorial to St Patrick’s Battalion – a unit of several hundred soldiers from Ireland and other European countries who fought as part of the Mexican army against the United States in the 1840s - in Mexico tomorrow morning.
He is also due to meet the president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieot, during his time in the country.
During his time in Central America, he will be given the keys to the city of San Salvador, will visit the memorial to all who lost their lives during the Salvadoran conflict in the 1980s, and meet with business leaders to discuss trade links with Ireland.
The President’s wife Sabina is accompanying him on the trip, as is Labour TD Joe Costello, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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