A party next Saturday in O'Connell Street, Dublin, to celebrate the Presidency of Mrs Robinson has been cancelled because of the funeral of Princess Diana. The event will not now take place at all, because President Robinson is leaving to take up her post as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights next week. The rally was planned by women's groups, North and South of the Border. A spokeswoman for Mrs Robinson said it was a matter of great regret that the event would not take place, "but in the unfortunate circumstances, nobody would have felt like celebrating".
Organisers of the abandoned party said interest had been "phenomenal" and that at least 1,000 Northern women would have attended. Ms Marie Mulholland, of Women's Support Network, said: "All of us felt it wouldn't be appropriate. We were planning to celebrate one woman's life and here was another celebrated women who had died."
Flags on all State buildings are to be flown at half mast on Saturday as a mark of respect for Princess Diana, the Government decided yesterday, adds Geraldine Kennedy, Political Correspondent. The gesture was last made in 1979 to mark the death of Lord Mountbatten.
Government sources have also indicated that the British authorities are considering whether to hold a memorial service in Dublin for Princess Diana at a later date.
The Government cannot be represented at Princess Diana's funeral because of the criteria laid for the issuing of invitations. The Government was informed yesterday that invitations to attend the funeral "will be issued primarily on the basis of close personal association with the princess".