A controversial religious event, marking the centenary of Northern Ireland, takes place in Co Armagh this morning.

President Michael D Higgins declined an invitation to the event, saying the title was not politically neutral.

The event to mark 100 years since the partition of Ireland has been organised by the major Christian churches.

The church leaders group comprising leaders from the Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian faiths will jointly host the event.

President Higgins declined an invitation saying the title, a service of reflection and hope to mark the centenary of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland, was not politically neutral.

Sinn Féin have also declined to send a representative to the event.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and Government Chief Whip Jack Chambers will attend.

The Government has said its role in this matter was "clearly distinct from that of the President."

While it reiterated its "full support and understanding for the decision made by President Higgins with regard to his attendance at the event.

"That decision was quite properly made by the President, and was based on concerns that he had consistently expressed", a Government statement said earlier this month.

It has been reported British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will also attend - as will Northern Ireland's First Minister Paul Givan.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, UUP leader Doug Beattie, Naomi Long of the Alliance Party and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood will also be present.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was due to attend the event, but has been advised not to travel on health grounds.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton has suggested the event is not "celebrating partition, it is simply recognising a fact".

"And it is important to recognise that fact - the fact that Northern Ireland exists and is legitimate - was recognised by the Irish people when they voted in the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement.

"The Good Friday Agreement accepts that it is the present wish of the people of Northern Ireland that they remain in the United Kingdom until that view is changed," he told Newstalk last month.

Main image: Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney is seen at a UN Security Council briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on September 22nd, 2021. Picture by: Sipa USA/Alamy Live News

Additional reporting: Jack Quann