PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins had an unusual gift for the British Army which he presented to the Irish Guards regiment as part of the opening day ceremonies for his state visit – a tailored coat for a dog.
Mr Higgins (pictured) presented the regiment with the coat for their wolfhound mascot, named Domhnall, in a return gesture which was 40 years in the making.
The decision to gift the coat to the wolfhound was a response to a similar gesture dating back to 1972, when the Irish Guards presented a red coat to the Irish Army Fifth Battalion at a ceremony in Collins Barracks.
HNEWS@HERALD.IE