A planned visit by Britain's Prince Charles this week to the Burren, Co Clare has been cancelled because of the death of his aunt, Princess Margaret.
The prince had been due to visit the area on Valentine's Day next Thursday and also had been scheduled to open a new extension of the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Co Wicklow.
However, following Princess Margaret's death at the weekend, Queen Elizabeth announced a week of official mourning with her late sister's funeral taking place next Friday. In a message of condolence to the queen, the President, Mrs McAleese, said her thoughts and prayers were with her and her family on this sad occasion.
In another message to Queen Elizabeth, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said: "On my own behalf and on behalf of my Cabinet colleagues, I wish to convey our deepest condolences on the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret. Please accept our deepest sympathy on your sad loss."
Regarding Prince Charles' cancelled trip, disappointment was expressed in Co Clare at the loss of what would have been a major boost to local tourism.
"It is a great opportunity lost; the cameras of the world would have been on the Prince in the Burren," said Cllr Flan Garvey, chairman of the Clare Tourism Council. "With the outlook for the tourism industry this year not very good, we needed that kind of publicity and the prince's visit would have been great for the region."
Mr Garvey added: "I am optimistic however that it is an opportunity lost only on a temporary basis and I would hope that we would be able to welcome the Prince to the Burren later in the Spring when the flowers are out and he can see it in all its glory."
A member of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte, Mr Peter Curtin, also expressed his disappointment, saying the visit would have given a huge boost to the area.
A final decision on the trip, and on whether the Prince would have travelled with his partner, Ms Camilla Parker-Bowles, was due to have been made today.
Suzanne Breen in Belfast adds: The North's First and Deputy First Ministers have joined together to express their sadness and the death of Princess Margaret. In a joint statement, Mr David Trimble and Mr Mark Durkan, praised her charity work over the years.