President returns Domhnall the Irish Wolfhound's coat

The ceremonial red coat presented by President Michael D Higgins to the canine mascot of the Irish Guards returned a gesture of friendship made by the regiment more than 40 years ago.

On St Patrick’s Day in 1973 the British unit gave a similar coat to the mascot of the Fifth Battalion of the Irish Army, a mascot which like its own was an Irish wolfhound.