Ahern to attend Brady's appointment as cardinal

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern will represent the Government when Archbishop of Armagh Dr Sean Brady is made a cardinal in Rome later this month.

A request by President Mary McAleese to attend the November 24 ceremony in the Vatican was approved by the Cabinet last week.

Pope Benedict XVI will honour 23 other senior churchmen with the traditional cardinal's red hat at the consistory.

Ireland will now have three cardinals for the first time in its history - Cardinal Cahal Daly and Cardinal Desmond Connell also hold the honour.

Meanwhile, Mr Ahern will be honoured during his trip to Italy with the freedom of Bobbio - a small town in the north west of the country.

St Columbanus established a monastery in the 7th Century in Bobbio, which is now twinned with Navan, Co Meath.

To coincide with the Feast day of St Columbanus on Nov 23, Bobbio Mayor Roberto Pasquali will honour the Co Louth TD at a civic ceremony in the town.

"The award reflects the Dundalk TD's work on the Northern peace process and at EU level," his spokesman said.

The town is also famous as the setting in Umberto Eco's novel 'The Name of the Rose'.

Mr Ahern said: "I am very honoured to accept the award, particularly from a town which has such historic links with Ireland.

"I come from a small village and it is great to be conferred with the freedom of an equally small village which has such a strong sense of community and place."