A sculpture commemorating the volunteers from last summer's Special Olympics was unveiled yesterday in the gardens behind Dublin Castle.
The sculpture is a reinterpretation of the Special Olympics logo, surrounded by the names of 30,000 volunteers engraved on bronze plaques.
Ms Rita Lawlor, a former Special Olympics athlete and a current board member, said the sculpture would "keep up the legacy. It's a place for everyone from the Special Olympics to come".
The sculpture is located in the Dubh Linn gardens, just outside the Chester Beatty library. It was commissioned by the 2003 Special Olympic World Games committee and the Office of Public Works.
"It's a thank-you from the people of Ireland for the people who participated. It will be there for a long time as a reminder," said sculptor John Behan, whose work includes the famine memorial outside the UN in New York.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, unveiled the sculpture with the help of Ms Brona Mallon, a Special Olympics athlete who volunteered during the games.
Brona's mother, Ms Maura Mallon, said the work will serve as a place for volunteers to "bring their children and grandchildren because [the Special Olympics] will never be here again. It's very special." Mr Ahern, whose name is on the first plaque, said the sculpture would serve to commemorate the hard work leading up to and during the Special Olympic World Games.
"We have done something that doesn't end here and the thing is now to keep the momentum going for the future," he said.