Foreign politicians are traditionally not invited to the inauguration and nations are instead represented by their chief diplomats, an Irish embassy spokesman told the Echo.
Collins will join other ambassadors at the State Department before being driven to what will be near enough a front row seat for an inauguration that is expected to draw a crowd numbering in the millions.
Meanwhile, Bono, something of a roving Irish ambassador himself, will be among the many top entertainment figures taking part in a pre-inauguration celebration at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday.
Bono joins Colombian singer Shakira and Heather Headley from Trinidad, as one of only three non-U.S. artists in the Lincoln Memorial lineup.
Meanwhile, the Irish examiner reported that the announcement of Bono’s inclusion came shortly after fellow U2 member Larry Mullen criticized Bono for being too friendly with world leaders.
Mullen asserted that Bono’s association with George W. Bush and Tony Blair during an anti-poverty drive was an embarrassment.