The President, Mrs Robinson, will visit Derry and Donegal this weekend to mark the 1,400th anniversary of the death of St Colmcille. Born in Gartan, Co Donegal, Colmcille is believed to be the founder of Derry city named in his honour, Doire Cholmcille. He died on June 9th, 597 in Scotland.
Mrs Robinson will travel to Donegal tomorrow afternoon. After a number of engagements at Carndonagh, she will unveil a memorial in Greencastle to all those from Inishowen who died at sea.
On Saturday, the President will travel to Gartan, 10 miles south of Letterkenny, where Colmcille was born. After attending commemoration events in Gartan she will go to Derry city where she will visit St Columb's Church of Ireland Cathedral and St Columba's Catholic Church at Long Tower.
It was at Long Tower, overlooking Derry's Bogside, that Colmcille reputedly established his first monastery, thereby founding the city of Derry.