It's official, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has added a pre-Christmas visit to Dublin to her engagement diary.
And she will hold a meeting with Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s First Deputy Minister in Washington on Wednesday to discuss progress in the peace process
According to the Herald, Clinton has confirmed to Irish government officials that she intends to travel there in December.
Her acceptance is a surprise as the invitation is to a low key ministerial meeting as part of Ireland's presidency of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
But there is no question that her acceptance will represent a major boost to Enda Kenny close to Budget day.
Last month, the Herald revealed that ongoing attempts were being made to entice Clinton to visit after November's election, and they have proved successful.
The official invitations to the event have not been posted but behind the scenes talks have reportedly taken place between Irish and US representatives.
'We are working on the understanding that Secretary Clinton will be travelling to Dublin in the first week of December,' a source told the Herald. 'Her representatives have indicated that she intends to come. Everybody is delighted. It's a bit of a coup.'
Other high-profile guests scheduled to attend the ministerial meeting include British foreign secretary William Hague, along with the foreign ministers of France, Russia, Germany, and Turkmenistan.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs told the Herald: 'The invitations haven't been formally issued yet. They will be sent out in late October or early November.'
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.mairint | Sep 12, 2012, 05:51 PM EDT
When will you Irish give up the oul boot licking? You make fools of yourselves running after big names to come and tell you how great you are. Get a life. This woman is a radical feminist. She prances around the world in her 'dream role' pushing her U.N. agenda in every corner of the world. Imagine using American Embassies to promote strip tease homosexual exhibitionist parades in countires where they are banned, and promoting the killing of millions of preborn innocents. That is who she is.
cillowen | Sep 12, 2012, 01:01 PM EDT
the banshee babe - so scary a being
pilib04 | Sep 12, 2012, 12:31 PM EDT
Thirty articles about Rory McIlroy and a decision he won't make for four more years. Numerous repeat articles about nonsense. They we hear that Gerry and Martin are in the states and Irish Central can't provide an itinerary?
Portia777 | Sep 12, 2012, 12:22 PM EDT
and why December 2012 Eire.?
BrianO | Sep 12, 2012, 11:35 AM EDT
I wonder if her first response to the murdering of the Lybian diplomat was to apologize for religious intolerance or to declare war. it will be interesting what comes out after Obama is sent back to Indonesia.
judiron | Sep 12, 2012, 09:17 AM EDT
so what. She'll do anything to not have to go home to Billy.