U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Shannon amid tight security ahead of an event in Tipperary later.
Mr Kerry’s aircraft touched down in Shannon at around 7.15 this morning. A lengthy cavalcade, lead by Garda outriders, left the airport about an hour later.
The Secretary will meet with Minster for Foreign Affairs Charles Flanagan for a discussion about the Northern Ireland peace process as well as other regional and global issues.
Immediately following his engagement with Minister Flanagan, Secretary of State Kerry will attend an awards ceremony hosted by the Tipperary Peace Convention, at which he will be presented with the 2015 Tipperary International Peace Award.
Previous distinguished awardees include Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, George Mitchell, Bill Clinton, Benazir Bhutto, Mary McAleese and, most recently, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
Minister Flanagan will also attend and speak at that event.
Anti-war groups have expressed disappointment at news that Mr Kerry will received a peace award claiming its not justified.
A small group of activists have gathered at Shannon Airport today while a protest is also expected in Co Tipperary.