Thousands of people are set to attend the centenary commemoration of the death of Michael Collins in west Cork later.
Despite their past antagonism and rivalry, both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are currently in a coalition government with the Greens in the Republic of Ireland but the attendance of Mícheál Martin, who is also the taoiseach , is still being seen as symbolically important in healing old wounds.
The late Brian Lenihan, a former Fianna Fáil finance minister, once addressed the annual commemoration, but no party leader previously has.Fianna Fáil leader and taoiseach Mícheál Martin will address the commemorationBoth parties now have another foe - Sinn Féin, led by Mary-Lou McDonald. She won't be there even though Michael Collins was still technically a member of a previous version of Sinn Féin at the time of his killing.A major crowd and traffic plan involving the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána , Cork County Council and the emergency services is in place.
Those planning to attend the 15:00 local time ceremony are being urged to car share or use shuttle buses to get to and from the site which lies between Crookstown and Bandon.
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