More than 100 Special Olympics athletes and children arrived in Dublin yesterday for a major 50th European Union birthday celebration.
Marking Europe Day, the event saw Special Olympics athletes arrive from Belfast by steam train yesterday afternoon.
The trip, which included a birthday bash on the party's arrival at Connolly Station, is part of a series of activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Union.
Martin Territt, director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said: "The 9th of May is a special day all over Europe.
"It was on this day in 1950, out of the ruins of the second World War, that the idea for a union of European countries was first proposed.
"We are delighted this year, in Ireland, to have the Special Olympics athletes and the wonderful children's groups from Belfast celebrating this special day together with us.
"We have all had a wonderful time and we thank the organisations concerned for taking part." Organised by the European Commission Offices in Belfast and Dublin, the entourage included children from community centres in Belfast which participated in a range of play activities organised to mark the 50th anniversary.
Athletes and children from Drogheda, Dundalk and Dublin also attended the party with ambassadors from throughout the European Union.
Earlier in the day, an open-top double-decker EU bus decorated with the flags of the 27 member states toured Dublin city centre, stopping off at a number of locations with information for the public.
The Office of the European Parliament in Ireland also held a programme of activities in Cork to mark the occasion.