Irish delegation to travel to South Africa today

Meanwhile, the President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina will fly out to South Africa later - ahead of a memorial service on Tuesday.

They are to be joined by the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and one of the members of the famous 1984 Dunnes Stores anti-apartheid strike group, who was asked yesterday to be a part of

the official state delegation.

The remaining staff members - who took part in the two and a half year protest - will also to fly to South Africa today to pay their respects after the Irish Trade Movement offered to pay for the trip.