Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that US President Joe Biden will visit Ireland next week.
It comes as the White House officially announced that Mr Biden will visit Mayo and Louth as part of a four-day trip to Ireland.
While news of the visit was widely anticipated, it was only formally confirmed on Wednesday morning.
The Irish Mirror also understands that Cabinet ministers were told that an address to the Oireachtas will take place on Thursday. This will follow a state banquet on Wednesday evening in Farmleigh, hosted by the Taoiseach.
Well-placed sources also said that Mr Biden will address crowds in Ballina, Co Mayo, on Friday. Tánaiste Micheál Martin confirmed on RTÉ's News at One that an address will take place in Mayo next week.
READ MORE - TDs and Senators will happily return to Leinster House early from Easter break to welcome Joe Biden
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Mr Biden will travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland from April 11 to 14. She also confirmed trips to his ancestral homes.
“President Biden will first travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland from April 11-12 to mark the tremendous progress since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago and to underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Ireland’s vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities,” she said.
“The President will then travel to Ireland from April 12-14. He will discuss our close cooperation on the full range of shared global challenges.
“He will also hold various engagements, including in Dublin, County Louth, and County Mayo, where he will deliver an address to celebrate the deep, historic ties that link our countries and people.”
In a separate statement, the Taoiseach said that he was looking forward to the forthcoming visit.
He said: “I am delighted that President Biden will pay a visit to Ireland. It will be a privilege and a special moment to welcome him back as President of the United States.
“Joe Biden has always been a friend of Ireland. Over many decades, and to this day, he has supported the cause of peace in Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement. He stood with us as we navigated the difficult consequences of Brexit.
“When we spoke recently in the White House, President Biden was clear that in celebrating the Good Friday Agreement, we should be looking ahead, not backwards.
“We need to continue working together as true partners to fulfil the potential of all the people who call this island their home.
“His visit is an opportunity to celebrate and renew the strong political, economic and personal ties that bind our two countries together. Above all, it is an opportunity to welcome a great Irish-American President home.”
Mr Biden was expected to travel home on Saturday, April 15. However, it now appears that the trip will end one day sooner than expected.
It is expected that a Dáil address to TDs and Senators may be placed on Mr Biden's agenda. The Irish Mirror witnessed numerous Secret Service Agents and senior gardaí inspecting the Dáil chamber on Wednesday morning.
Senior sources said that a decision on whether or not this address will take place will be made "shortly".
In a video posted on Twitter, the Taoiseach said that the involvement of the US and President Biden has been "essential to the Peace Process".
Mr Varadkar said: "In good days and bad, the US has always been at our side. So it's fitting that President Biden will be here to mark this significant milestone with us.
"His visit is also a statement about the strength, warmth and depth of the wider relationship between Ireland and the United States.
"We are true partners. We see it in our common approach to the war in Ukraine and also climate change. We see it in the remarkable two-way trade and investment relationship between our two countries.
"We see it in our own families and personal connections that so many of us have across all 50 states.
"We see it most clearly in the President's own special affinity with Ireland, in his family ties in Co Mayo and Co Louth.
"As Taoiseach, it's going to be a very special moment to welcome a great Irish American President, Joe Biden, home to Ireland.
"As I said to the President on St. Patrick's Day, you will be received with open arms and the warmest of hearts.
"We look forward to extending to him, and to those traveling with him, a céad míle fáilte to Ireland."
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