US: Irish tenor Ronan Tynan is to perform at the inauguration ceremony later this month for President George W. Bush's second term in office, it was confirmed yesterday.
Mr Tynan will sing at the National Prayer Service in Washington DC following a request from the US Presidential Inauguration Committee.
The tenor, who comes from Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, sang at the funeral service for former US president Ronald Reagan last year, performing Franz Schubert's Ave Maria and Amazing Grace.
Mr Tynan was requested to perform on inauguration day after he sang for former president George Bush snr and his wife, Barbara, at their 60th wedding anniversary party in the White House last Thursday.
The prayer service will take place after the president is sworn in on January 21st.
Mr Tynan left the group known as The Irish Tenors last year and has since performed on several major stages, including the New York Yankees' 2004 baseball play-off games.
A solo CD of his music, entitled Ronan, is due to be released this spring.