Taoiseach Bertie Ahern found time shortly before Christmas to send season's greetings to the Polish community as part of a Fianna Fáil drive to win support among the "new Irish".
His 400-word message in Polish for the festive season, carried on the party website www.fiannafail.ie, begins "Drodzy Polacy" or "Dear Poles" and displays a grasp of Polish family culture and Christmas customs.
Mr Ahern addresses the Polish community as "the Irish Polonia", recalls the 1979 visit of Poland's Pope John Paul II, and goes on to say that, "I would like to share Oplatek with you".
Oplatek (pronounced "Oh-pwah-tek") is a traditional Polish family ceremony enacted on Christmas Eve. Sacred white wafers, similar to those used in Holy Communion, are broken apart and the pieces distributed among members of the household.
There is also special remembrance of deceased relatives at this, the most emotional moment of the Polish Christmas.
Mr Ahern also tells his Polish readers: "Although distant geographically, the histories and experiences of our two countries are closely linked. In terms of a shared heritage and values, our countries resemble one another. Both nations have had to struggle to regain independence. Forced emigration has been a feature of both our pasts. We both share a strong sense of national identity."
Giving the background to the party's Polish initiative, Fianna Fáil general secretary Seán Dorgan told The Irish Times: "We have had a number of Polish people and other 'new Irish' join us over the last number of years. We took a decision late last year to put up a number of web pages and we hope to expand on it. The reaction is great."
Fianna Fáil is believed to have between 50 and 100 Polish members at present.
