Ceremonial red coat gesture for mascot Domhnall

The ceremonial red coat presented by President Michael D Higgins to the mascot of the Irish Guards returned a gesture of friendship made by the regiment more than 40 years ago.

On St Patrick’s Day in 1973, the British unit gave a similar coat to the mascot of the Fifth Battalion of the Irish army, a mascot which like its own was an Irish wolfhound.

The President marked his state visit by giving a red coat to Domhnall of Shantamon, a 20-month-old wolfhound, and his handler Drummer David Steed at Windsor Castle.