President Michael D Higgins has said he is pleased by the warmth of the welcome US President Joe Biden has received in Ireland.
Mr Biden was greeted at Áras an Uachtaráin earlier today by President Higgins and his wife Sabina, as he continued his four-day visit to the island of Ireland.
It is Mr Biden's third visit to the residence, but his first as president.
He was taken to the drawing room to meet Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Secretary-General to the President Orla O'Hanrahan.
He signed the visitors' book at a ceremony in the State reception room, quoting an Irish proverb "your feet will bring you where your heart is".
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He told reporters that he referred to that most Irish of qualities - "dignity".
The two presidents held a meeting that was to last half an hour.
Mr Biden also reiterated his hopes for the return of power-sharing in Northern Ireland as he rang the symbolic Peace Bell on the grounds, which was erected in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He also planted an oak tree.
The US President said that Áras an Uachtaráin "was an incredible place ... just like the White House".
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Mr Biden then inspected a military guard of honour, being watched by US and Irish delegations including Mr Martin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The Irish delegation also includes Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
President Higgins thanked Mr Biden for his continuing support for the Good Friday Agreement and they discussed the need for continued work to build on and strengthen the peace process in Northern Ireland.
They also discussed the challenges which the Irish diaspora in the US faces, the rights of trade unions, the importance of green transition, support for same-sex marriage and LGBT+ rights as well as climate change and global food security.
The two men also discussed their shared interest in the poet Patrick Kavanagh.
As a gift, President Higgins presented his US counterpart with a vinyl recording of Mr Kavanagh's poetry read by himself, Bono and other artists, including Hozier.
Mr Biden then travelled across the Phoenix Park for a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, where the Northern Ireland peace process and economic ties between Ireland and the US will top the agenda.
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