More than 2,000 people from 110 countries are being granted formal Irish citizenship at ceremonies over the next two days.
The Taoiseach was in attendance at a ceremony of welcome at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines in Dublin this afternoon.
Formal civic ceremonies of welcome are being held today and tomorrow in Dublin to mark the granting of citizenship.
These ceremonies were introduced by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter last year, along with changes to the citizenship application process, to try to clear the backlog of cases.
The backlog stood at 22,000 people in March 2011, but 28 ceremonies have been held since then.
Speaking at today's ceremony, Enda Kenny told those receiving citizenship that they are now coming home and would be part of a new chapter of Ireland's history.
Those becoming citizens will take an oath of fidelity to the nation, receive their certificate of naturalisation and thereby become Irish citizens.
Retired High Court judge Mr Justice Bryan McMahon will be administering the oath.
