400 members of the Irish travelling community will attend an audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican today.

Among those who have travelled to Italy for the gathering are members of the families affected by the Carrickmines fire tragedy.

10 people, including five children, lost their lives in the fire at a halting site on the Glenamuck Road on October 10.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the service to mark the 50th anniversary of the first ever visit by a pontiff to a gypsy camp in 1965.

Last week Pope Francis sent a letter of condolence to read at the funerals of the 10 fire victims in Bray and Dublin.