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HM Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh will pay a State visit to Ireland at the invitation of President Mary McAleese.   The visit will take place from Tuesday 17 to Friday 20 May 2011.  

An outline programme for the visit and information on arrangements for media covering the event are set out below.  Additional details will be circulated to accredited journalists in advance of the visit.

PRESS CENTRES - Press Centres will be available in Dublin and separately for the Cashel and Cork elements of the programme.  The Dublin Press Centre will be located in Dublin Castle.  It will be open for accredited journalists from 09h00 on Monday 16 May and will remain open during the course of the visit. 

All accredited journalists will be provided with a Press Pack which will include briefing material and background information on the programme for the visit.  Information Desks will be set up at the Press Centres to provide additional information and assistance.  In addition, briefings will be organised during the course of the visit.

ACCREDITATION - Applications for accreditation will be accepted from today, 20 April, until noon on Wednesday 11 May.  Applications can be made using the attached on-line form.  Badges will be available for collection at the accreditation offices in the Press Centres.  Details on this and other relevant points will be transmitted along with confirmation of accreditation requests. 

POOLING - Logistical and security considerations require the implementation of media pool arrangements throughout the programme.  Further details of these will be provided upon accreditation.  Facilities will be in place so that all accredited journalists may avail of pool broadcasts, official photography and reporting.  It will not be possible to accommodate all requests. 

TRANSPORT - For events taking place in Dublin and Kildare, transport will be provided from the Press Centre in Dublin Castle to each event for journalists pooled to cover that event.  These journalists will be provided with return transport to Dublin Castle.   Similar arrangements will apply for the Cashel and Cork events.   Media arriving independently at venues will not be given access and no local facilities will be provided.

BROADCAST VEHICLES - All broadcast vehicles which are required for use on secure sites must be security-cleared in advance of being positioned at the media centres or event sites.  It is anticipated that vehicles will be screened at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, from Monday 16 May at 09h00.  It should be noted that not all requests can be complied with due to space restrictions at the various events.  Enquiries about access for broadcast vehicles should be addressed by e-mail to Detective Inspector Michael J. Heffernan at

ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL - Ireland’s central tourism portal

is available to assist the media in making travel and accommodation arrangements. 

CONTACT NUMBERS ETC - For further information, journalists may contact the media accreditation office of the Department of Foreign Affairs at +353 1 4082051/2052/2054 and by e-mail at

(all events from midday)

Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel: Arrival

Áras an Uachtaráin: Ceremonial welcome; meeting with President and Dr. McAleese; Tree Planting Ceremony

Garden of Remembrance: Wreath Laying Ceremony

Trinity College: View Book of Kells; Reception in the Long Room

(am) Guinness Storehouse: “Windows” Tour of Dublin

Government Buildings: Greeted by the Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny T.D.  

(pm) Irish War Memorial Garden, Islandbridge: Wreath Laying Ceremony

Croke Park: Visit to stadium and meeting with Gaelic Athletic Association members

Dublin Castle: State Dinner

(am) National Stud Kildare: Visit and meeting with industry representatives

Farmleigh House: Reception with members of Gaisce – The President’s Award (H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh only)

(pm) Dublin Venue (to be announced): A celebration of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II’s State visit to Ireland hosted by the British Embassy.

(am) St. Patrick’s Rock, Cashel: Tour of St. Patrick’s Rock

(pm) English Market, Cork: Meet with traders

Tyndall Institute, Cork: Visit research facility and reception

Cork Airport: Departure