The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern congratulated London on winning their bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012 and he offered Irish assistance to the hosts.
Mr Ahern said: "Ireland can contribute enormously to the success of the London Games through the availability here of excellent competition and training facilities not just for our own athletes, but also for competitors from countries throughout the world in the build-up to 2012."
He said: "It is great news, not just for London but for the rest of the country, and as near neighbours we in Ireland share in the celebration".
Meanwhile, it also emerged today that a proposed £55 million stadium on the site of Northern Ireland’s Maze Prison could stage three Olympic soccer matches in 2012 if the project gets the go ahead from the British government.