1.
SV De Valera down steps of aircraft and greeted (2 shots)
0.10

2.
GV Basilica TILT DOWN to entrance.
0.16

3.
SV PAN De Valera ass assisted into grotto.
0.27

4.
SCU Shrine of Our Lady
0.30

5.
SV & CU De Valera praying at shrine (3 shots)
0.40

6.
CU Lighted candle.
0.43

7.
GV Party round shrine.
0.46

8.
SV Women holding candles.
0.50

9.
MV & SV De Valera looking at shrine.
0.58

10.
CU Status of Our Lady
1.00

11.
MV De Valera leaving.
1.05



Initials CO.9.43 GL/DW/CO/9.54



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: President Eamon de Valera of Ireland, who is in his 89th year, made a rare public appearance at the weekeNd when he flew to France for a private pilgrimage to Lourdes.

The President is the world's oldest head of state, a month senior to Gustav of Sweden. He was born 14th October 1882.

It was his third visit to the celebrated Roman Catholic shrine, where the Virgin Mary is reputed to have appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. He made his first pilgrimage there in 1928, and his second in 1948, a year before the Irish Free State became the completely independent Republic of Ireland.

Mr. De Valera has been president since 1959.