Prince Charles and Camilla to visit Ireland next month

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are to visit Ireland in May, Clarence House has confirmed.

Charles and Camilla's four-day trip will reportedly take them to Mullaghmore, where the Prince's great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was killed in an IRA bombing in August 1979.

In County Sligo, the royal couple may also visit Lissadell House and Drumcliffe Church, where the acclaimed poet WB Yeats is buried.

Charles has officially visited Ireland twice before, in May and June 1995 and in February 2002, but this tour will come after the Queen's highly successful visit here in May 2011.

Clarence House said: "At the request of the British Government, their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit Ireland in May.

"Their Royal Highnesses will also visit Northern Ireland in the same period. The four-day visit to both countries will take place from 19th to 22nd May 2015.

"Planning is still in progress and more details will be released in due course."

It is highly unusual for a high-profile royal visit to Northern Ireland in be announced in advance and is testament to how far security concerns have improved in recent years.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, welcomed the trip.

"Following the reciprocal state visits of recent years, this visit to Ireland will represent a further expression of the warm and friendly relations which now exist between us," he said.

"We look forward to their arrival next month, and to a visit programme which reflects the quality of these relations."

Charles and Camilla are expected to visit Mullaghmore, Lissadell House and Drumcliffe Church.

They are also likely to visit Dublin also and attend formal events with President Michael D Higgins.

In a speech at the Irish Embassy in 2010, Charles highlighted the importance of Ireland for himself and his wife.

He said: "The ancient land of Ireland does have a remarkable tradition of cultural and spiritual creativity. It can be a powerful magic for some and I can only say that the magic has worked itself on both of us."