US president Barack Obama will make a public appearance at College Green in Dublin next Monday during his short visit to Ireland, it has been confirmed.
A Government spokeswoman described the event as "a public celebration".
Mr Obama will address the audience at the end of the entertainment which will involve "many well known Irish artists".
The event will be open to members of the public and will be free of charge. Security gates will open at 2pm to facilitate the large number of people likely to attend.
While cameras and phones will be permitted, no signs and banners or food and drinks will be allowed inside the event.
Earlier in the day Mr Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama will call on President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin, meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and visit the President’s ancestral home in Moneygall, Co Offaly.
Farmleigh has been chosen for security reasons and because of its proximity to other venues for the visit, including Áras an Uachtaráin and the US ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park, where the president will stay for his single night in Ireland.
Up to 10 venues were examined for the event, including O’Connell Street, the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, Croke Park and the Phoenix Park, but the others were ruled out for security or traffic reasons.
Former US president Bill Clinton addressed a crowd of thousands in College Green in 1995.
Although the programme has remained a tightly-guarded secret, it is expected that the President will arrive in Ireland early on Monday morning. After meeting the President, Mary McAleese, in the Áras and Government ministers in Farmleigh, he will travel by helicopter to Moneygall, Co Offaly, the location of his ancestral homestead.
Mr Obama’s visit to Moneygall is likely to be shorter than originally anticipated. He is not expected to make a public address but will walk along the main street of the village and visit a local shop and bar.
