President Mary McAleese is today visiting Belfast and the unionist-dominated towns of Larne and Ballymena in Co Antrim.
In Ballymena, which is the main town in the North Antrim constituency of DUP leader Ian Paisley, she will address students at Ballymena Academy.
The visit may revive last year's controversy over her remarks equating the way in which the Nazis gave their children an irrational hatred of Jews with the manner in which anti-Catholic bigotry was transmitted to some Protestant children in Northern Ireland.
Some DUP councillors have urged students from the academy's politics and history society to query why she made her controversial remarks, for which she subsequently apologised.
One of the main opponents of the visit is DUP councillor Robin Stirling, who hinted that her visit today might be picketed.
"If there is a protest I will be there. I don't believe that Mary McAleese, after her comments comparing people like me to Nazis, should be in Ballymena. It can't be good for community relations," he said.
"I don't believe her apology. I believe she meant what she said - the only reason she apologised is because of the universal condemnation of her remarks," said Mr Stirling, who added that the vast majority of unionists, both DUP and Ulster Unionist, opposed the President's visit.
Local SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan challenged Mr Stirling's assessment, saying that most people were happy to see her visit the school.
"I think this is a significant step forward and it will have a positive affect on this area," he added.
