Thousands of members of the public today enjoyed a family day at Leinster House, where they had the chance the speech delivered by US president John F Kennedy to the joint Houses of the Oireachtas exactly 45 years ago today.
Over eight thousand members of the public will stream through the halls over the weekend as the seat of Government hosts its first ever such event.
Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue welcomed guests today telling them it was a “historic occasion”.
“We are opening the gates of Leinster House and inviting people in to see their parliament and their politicians and get a better understanding of the important work that is carried out here,” he said.
Mr O’Donoghue said the initiative had been a huge success.
“Over eight thousand people will come here this weekend. We had an unprecedented response from the public and it shows that people are interested in politics and want to connect with the whole parliamentary process.”
He said the event was part of a detailed communications strategy to connect politicians and the work of the Oireachtas with the wider public.
Mr O’Donoghue has also visited schools throughout the State with other members of the Oireachtas and education officers as part of a major schools programme.
“We are bringing politicians, politics and the parliamentary system into the classroom. This will become part of the Civic Social and Political Education syllabus from next September,” he said.
Students from the Gaiety School of Acting were invited to recite great Irish speeches at various locations throughout the House today.
They included noted speeches by Daniel O’Connell, Robert Emmett, Charles Stewart Parnell and Eamon De Valera.
More recent speeches by former taoisigh Jack Lynch and Garret FitzGerald and senator Gordon Wilson will also be heard by visitors.
Visitors also heard John F. Kennedy's famous speech Ireland's hour has comedelivered to the Houses on June 28th 1963.
"Hopefully all this will engage people as they stroll around the grounds and further develop their interest in politics,” Mr O’Donoghue said.
There was also street theatre, live music and clowns, in an environment where such entertainment might not normally be expected.