President Mary McAleese is in the French pilgrim town of Lourdes along with 500 members of the Defence Forces to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the shrine. They are joining thousands of soldiers from around the world for special military ceremonies marking the jubilee.
Members of the Defence Forces have been taking part in the annual pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine in Lourdes for the past 50 years.
However, an extra large Irish group has travelled this year for the 150th anniversary of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to a peasant girl named Bernadette.
The group includes 500 soldiers, hundreds of army veterans, members of the Civil Defence and their families.
President McAleese, who is Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces, her husband Martin, and Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin are taking part in the ceremonies over the next three days.
The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley, along with the head of the EU-Chad mission, Lieutenant General Pat Nash, and soldiers from all ranks are also participating.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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