The US President Mr George W Bush has landed in Ireland for this weekend's EU/US Summit.
The US President and his wife Laura waved from the steps of Air Force One shortly after it landed at around 8pm but the public and anti-war protesters were kept well away from the remote runway at Shannon Airport in County Clare.
Mr Bush, his wife and their entourage, which included Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, were greeted by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern on their arrival at
the 16th century castle.
The Taoiseach and Mr Bush shook hands and posed for photographers.
Mr Ahern has attracted criticism from political opponents for allowing the meeting to go ahead in Ireland following the conflict in Iraq.
Government sources told The Irish Times he would put the Irish, as opposed to the EU, view on foreign policy issues such as the treatment of prisoners in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay and the Middle East to the President.
President Bush suggested in an interview last night that there were not major differences between the US and Europe over Iraq, but just with France.
The US President's visit was marked by some of the heaviest security in the history of the State.
Snipers manned the roofs of buildings overlooking the landing area as Mr Bush made his way from the aircraft into his presidential car - an armoured Cadillac.
At least 4,000 gardaí and 2,000 troops have been deployed around Shannon Airport and Dromoland Castle, along with a range of military equipment and vehicles including Scorpion tanks.
Anti-war campaigners said the tanks were entirely inappropriate for the task of dealing with protesters, and demanded that they be withdrawn.Thousands of protesters participated in a peaceful demonstration a half mile from Shannon airport.
The EU/US summit is due to discuss problems in Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan as well as the Middle East peace process and the global fight against HIV/Aids.