"I am not against this but can't figure out the reason."

It's being done because, in the words of the secretary of state for culture, olympics, media and sport, "The Republic of Ireland is the only country outside the UK to be visited by the torch and rightly so, given the unique and deep ties between Ireland and the UK."

Michael Ring, the Republic of Ireland's sports Minister, said he was delighted that the flame would be visiting the country.

"A number of international teams have already chosen Dublin as a training base before the London Games," he said.

"The visit of the Olympic Flame next year will be a wonderful opportunity for the whole of Ireland to be even more closely involved with the 2012 London Olympic Games and for Irish people to be part of the biggest sporting event in the world."

Sounds pretty good to me.

"unique and deep ties between Ireland and the UK.""

Like the unique and deep ties between the UK and India, Africa and a myriad other places which have been raped, pillaged and plundered by the British.

...Mother did quite nicely out of it.

I don't know about anywhere else, but our local council and other business concerns, seem to be spending quite a lot of time and money on dress rehearsals on this torch carrying ceremony. The next thing, they are pleading lack of resources and funding?.