The president of Poland, Lech Kaczyñski, met members of the Polish community at a private function in Dublin last night after he arrived for a State visit.
Mr Kaczyñski met some 70 people from groups such as the Irish Polish Society and the Polish Social and Cultural Organisation. The event was organised by the Polish embassy to reflect the growing number of Polish citizens living here.
While estimates on the number of Poles living here vary, almost 150,000 have been issued with Public Personal Service (PPS) numbers since Poland joined the EU in May 2004.
An embassy spokeswoman said Polish people from many backgrounds had been invited to meet the president, including doctors and nurses.
Mr Kaczyñski's official visit starts this morning when he will be greeted by a 21-gun salute at Áras an Uachtaráin. He will have a private meeting with President Mary McAleese before a tree-planting ceremony in the grounds of the Áras.
The Polish president will lay a wreath in the Garden of Remembrance before meeting Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at Government Buildings this afternoon. They are expected to discuss a Polish plan to revive the European constitutional treaty.
Later tonight the President and Dr Martin McAleese will host a State dinner for Mr Kaczyñski and his wife Maria.
Tomorrow morning Mr Kaczyñski will address the National Forum on Europe at Dublin Castle. He will also meet the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Vincent Jackson, at the Mansion House.
A Government lunch will be held in his honour at Iveagh House on St Stephen's Green.Polish economic reforms: page 16
