President Higgins to speak at Béal na mBláth

President Michael D Higgins will make history on Sunday when he becomes the first sitting Head of State to deliver the oration at the annual Michael Collins commemoration at Beal na mBlath in mid-Cork.

The commemoration takes place at the site where the convoy of the pro-Treaty Irish Army Chief of Staff died after an ambush by IRA volunteers.

Organisers of the event say they are very privileged to have President Higgins deliver the oration, while still in office.