'The Greatest' set for Dublin knock-out

Heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali is to be the guest of honour at a €650 a head black tie event in Dublin this evening.

‘An Evening with the Greatest’ at the Ballsbridge Court Hotel (formerly known as the Berkeley Court Hotel) in Dublin will be a fundraiser for the Alltech-Muhammad Ali Centre Global Education and Charitable Fund which is based in his native Kentucky and was set up earlier this year.

It raises money for educational programmes and humanitarian endeavours worldwide.

Two Irish charities, the Jack and Jill Foundation, which provides care and support for children with severe neurological development issues and their families, and the Irish Rugby Charitable Trust will also be beneficiaries from the evening. The event starts with a drinks' reception at 6.30pm.

Tomorrow morning Ali will be given a tour of the Aviva Stadium and will be presented with a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

In the afternoon, he will fly to Shannon Airport for the highlight of his visit.

He will be made the first honorary freeman on Ennis. Ali's great grandfather Abe Clancy emigrated from the Turnpike Road area in Ennis in the 1860s and eventually settled in Kentucky where his great-grandson grew up.

The civic reception will take place in Waterpark House, Drumbiggle, before Mr Ali (67) embarks on a drive through the town.

The likely route will be from Drumbiggle, through Carmody Street, the Maid of Erin Roundabout, Harmony Row, Abbey Street, O'Connell Street and Turnpike Road.

A tree will be unveiled in Ali's honour near his ancestral home.

Ennis Town Council is expecting tens of thousands of people to attend the event.

Public and media access to Mr Ali is likely to be restricted because of his state of health.

He is a long time sufferer from Parkinson's Disease though he did manage to a public tour in an open-topped SUV at Windsor Castle during the weekend.