Fianna Fáil has been officially registered as a political party in Northern Ireland, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced tonight.
Mr Ahern told 2,000 supporters at a party event in Dublin that the news marked a historic step to developing the senior Coalition partner across the 32 counties.
Last September the Taoiseach revealed that he wanted to recruit supporters north of the Border and he appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern to spearhead the move.
Since then the William Drennan Cumann was formed in Queen's University in Belfast and the Watty Graham Cumann was established at the University of Ulster in Derry.
Mr Ahern told tonight's Cairde Fail fundraising dinner: "I wish to announce that following a series of consultations and communications, the Electoral Commission has now confirmed that Fianna Fail - The Republican Party has been officially registered as a political party in Northern Ireland.
"This marks a historic step in the road to developing a strategy for organising this party on an All-Ireland basis." Mr Ahern hailed Fianna Fail supporters for ensuring victory in May's general election.
"While our opponents spoke about buying new shoes for the Aras, you did the hard work and wore out your shoe leather knocking on doors and getting out the vote.
"And in the end the people stood with us, and cast their votes for our candidates and our party, because they understood that we offered the best vision for Ireland's future, and had proved in government that we could take the tough decisions that must be made to protect our hard won prosperity."
The Cairde Fail event at the Citywest Hotel was toasting Mr Ahern's three-in-a-row general election victories. He said: "Our achievement in securing a historic third term is a source of immense pride.
At the election, we put forward our vision for our nation in the years ahead. This is a vision which the people voted for and it is a vision which this Government will deliver over the next five years."
Tonight's event was attended by Fianna Fáil TDs, Senators, MEPs and local authority members. Mr Ahern has endured a stormy third term in office with revelations from the Mahon Tribunal and controversy over Cabinet pay rises. He survived a no-confidence vote in the Dáil in September.