Four-day visit by British aircraft carrier

HMS Illustrious, a British Royal Navy aircraft carrier, will arrive in Dublin Port for a courtesy visit this morning.

The ship, the second of three Invincible class aircraft carriers and the fifth ship to bear the name Illustrious, will remain in the port for the weekend, playing host to groups of schoolchildren from Dublin and Belfast.

Fresh from a two-year refit, the ship is about to undergo an extensive period of sea trials and exercises as she prepares to become the flagship of the British fleet.

Security measures in Dublin Port have been increased for the visit, monitored by the British embassy.

The embassy told The Irish Times that the visit reflected a warming of relations between Ireland and Britain.

During the four-day visit, children from the Shankill/Shankill project, a grouping of schoolchildren from Bray, Co Wicklow, which is close to Shankill, Co Dublin, and Skankill in Belfast, will visit the ship.

Other schools involved are Rutland Street Primary School in Dublin and St Columba's College, Rathfarnham. Patients of the National Children's Hospital will also attend.

Further details on the Illustrious are available on www.royal-navy.mod.uk