Taoiseach leads flag-raising ceremony

Leaders from the European Union's 25 member-states have gathered at Áras an Uachtaráin this evening to celebrate the EU's biggest expansion, uniting the continent and creating a Union of more than 450 million people.

The leaders of the 10 accession countries are joining the Taoiseach and the President, Mrs Mary McAleese, as well as the leadesr of the 15 other countries for a flag-raising ceremony this afternoon after which, Mr Ahern will host a celebratory dinner at Farmleigh House.

At the  brief ceremony the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, made a declaration on behalf of the EU and Seamus Heaney read Beacons at Bealtaine, a poem written for the occasion.

After the ceremony the Taoiseach is to host a dinner for the leaders at Farmleigh House. Most of the heads-of-state will leave Dublin tonight although the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, is expected to remain in Dublin for talks with Mr Ahern on the North tomorrow morning.

At the meeting in Dublin Castle of the "three presidents", the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in his capacity as President of the European Council, Mr Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission  and Mr Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament Mr Ahern bid a "Cead Mile Failte" to the ten new EU member states and said today marked a new beginning for all Europeans.