BOTH PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Micheál Martin will today attend the funeral of former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble in Antrim.
Mr Trimble died last week aged 77. He led the UUP between 1995 and 2005 and was instrumental in the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement.
A statement from the UUP said: "It is with great sadness that the family of Lord Trimble announce that he passed away peacefully earlier today following a short illness."
His efforts won him the Nobel Peace Prize along with SDLP leader John Hume.
Since 2006, he sat in the House of Lords as Baron Trimble of Lisnagarvey.
He was the first person to serve in the role of first minister in the new Northern Ireland Executive established as part of the Good Friday Agreement.
He is survived by his wife, Daphne and their four children.
Senior representatives and political figures from across the political spectrum will attend the service in Lisburn the afternoon, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson among them. He is set to be accompanied by Secretary for Northern Ireland Shailesh Vara.
Sinn Féin’s leader in Northern Ireland and first minister designate, Michelle O'Neill, and a number of other senior party figures will also be among those attending the funeral.
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