Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams confirmed last night he was on the guest list for this week's inauguration of Irish President Mary McAleese.

He said he had been invited to the ceremony in Dublin Castle tomorrow - and had accepted.

Mr Adams backed Dublin Government candidate Ms McAleese ahead of last month's presidential election. As a resident of Northern Ireland he had no vote but indicated he would support the Belfast-born law professor in the contest.

Earlier in the campaign, Ms McAleese - who went on to be elected by the widest margin in the history of Ireland presidency polls - strenuously denied implications in leaked Dublin Government documents that she had sympathies for Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA.

Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam is also expected to be at the Dublin Castle event, although the full list of specially-invited guests has still to be announced.