President joins military’s Lourdes anniversary

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese joined 500 members of the Defence Forces in Lourdes at the weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the international military pilgrimage to the Marion shrine.

The soldiers’ pilgrimage was started by French and German troops in 1958 and the weekend saw the Defence Forces join thousands of soldiers from around the world for special religious ceremonies to celebrate the jubilee in the French pilgrim town.

Soldiers from more than 20 countries attended the religious services over the past three days.