Olympic torch route includes Dublin
Olympic torch
Sporting chiefs are to break tradition and allow the Olympic flame to travel outside the UK into Ireland ahead of the London Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is expected to sign off on plans to take the torch to Dublin on June 6.
It is understood organisers are planning a major mid-morning city centre celebration to mark the historic event.
The arrival of the Olympic flame in Dublin will be seen as a major coup for Irish sporting chiefs as the torch does not normally travel outside the host country in the lead-up to the Games.
Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: "This brings even closer to home the spirit of the Olympic Games, which is being hosted by our near neighbours in London next year."
Michael Ring, junior minister for tourism and sport, added: "This is also tremendous news from a tourism perspective.
"This year we had the highly successful visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama, and today's announcement means that we will again have an opportunity for significant international media focus on Ireland next summer."
Press Association
