Former Eurovision singer Dana Scallon has received the highest honour to be bestowed on a layperson in the Catholic Church.
The Derry singer, who won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland in 1970 with ‘All Kinds of Everything’, has been named a dame of the Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great.
The award comes directly from Pope Francis and is bestowed on non-clergy who have served the church.
Ms Scallon, who stood as a candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election and served as an Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2004, received the honour at a service on Thursday at the Church of the Assumption and St. James. in Claregalway, Co Galway.
