McAleese to attend Reagan funeral

President Mary McAleese is to fly to America tomorrow to attend the funeral of Ronald Reagan in Washington DC.

The state funeral will take place on Friday, after the 93-year-old died last Saturday following a lengthy battle against Alzheimer’s disease.

The service is due to take place at the Washington National Cathedral at 11.30am.

Mrs McAleese will fly out of Dublin tomorrow to return from Washington DC on Saturday morning.

Former President Reagan died on Saturday surrounded by his his wife, Nancy, and their two children, Ron Reagan and Patti.

It is expected that Reagan’s coffin will be brought to the Cathedral through the streets of Washington in a horse-drawn procession.

Thousands of mourners are expected to line the route and the funeral will be attended by leaders from across the world.

Later in the week, there will be a private sunset burial at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.