Special events planned to mark Flight of the Earls

The 400th anniversaries of the Flight of the Earls and the foundation of the Irish College in Louvain will be officially commemorated this year.

The Taoiseach announced today that the Government would be supporting events to mark the occasion.

Bertie Ahern described Hugh O'Neill's escape to St Anthony's College in the Belgian town as "one of the most poignant and romantic episodes in Irish history".

The commemorations will include exhibitions at the National Museum and the National Library and special-issue stamps from An Post.