The Ceann Comhairle has revealed a host of special guests are set to attend US President Joe Biden's joint address to the Houses of the Oireachtas later, including Marie Heaney, the widow of poet Seamus Heaney.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl described "hectic" and "excited" preparations over the last two weeks, but said a sense of calm has now descended and he believes the historic address will run very smoothly later.
Mr Biden is set to be accompanied by his special guest, Marie Heaney.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the Ceann Comhairle said: "He was most anxious that she [Mrs Heaney] would be present as part of his delegation because he is absolutely besotted by the work of Seamus Heaney.
"He has quoted him extensively over the years and we would expect to hear him quoted on a number of occasions today."
Nine members of the US Congress, one senator as well as Mr Biden's sister Valerie and son Hunter will attend.
Others set to be there include former President Mary McAleese and two former Taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny.
Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, and a number of party leaders from Northern Ireland, including Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill, Alliance leader Naomi Long and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood will also attend.
The ambassadors of the US, the UK, Morrocco, who is Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, and the ambassador of Ukraine, Larysa Gerasko, will also be there.
Seats are filling up as anticipation builds for the speech..
Mr Ó Fearghaíl added: "Unfortunately, the schedule for the president is extremely tight, so it involves his arrival, his greeting, those on the receiving line, his address, and his immediate departure.
"So, there are a lot of things we would like to show the president that are not going to be possible".
and son Hunter will attend the address
Mr Ó Fearghaíl praised Oireachtas staff for their preparations ahead of the visit.
"In all of these events, the politicians get to be up front, but the hard work is done by the people in the background," he said.
"Peter Finnegan, the clerk of the Dáil and all his team have worked tremendously hard over the last number of weeks, to get the arrangements in place.
"I've never worked with a better team than the team we have in the Oireachtas."
Strong US delegation in Dublin
A high-powered US delegation will be accompanying President Biden for today's engagements with the President Michael D Higgins and the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J Vilsack will be at the Áras this morning.
The Irish delegation will include Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue.
Secretaries Blinken and Vilsack will also be at Farmleigh for the meeting with the Taoiseach.
Senator Edward J Markey and seven members of the US House of Representatives are also in Dublin and are expected to attend President Biden's address to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
They include: Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-5); Rep. Richard Neal (MA-1); Rep. Brian Higgins (NY-26); Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-5); Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-6); Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5); and Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-18).
Also on the US delegation are Senator Chris Dodd, Special Presidential Advisor to the Americas; Senator Gary Hart, Former Special Envoy to Northern Ireland; and Nancy Soderberg, Former Deputy National Security Advisor.
Others in Dublin for the event are Mayor Paige Cognetti, Scranton, PA; Kevin O'Malley, Former Ambassador of the United States to Ireland; Mark Shriver, Former Member of the Maryland House of Delegates and President of Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School; and Stella O’Leary, United States Observer to the International Fund for Ireland.
The youngest person in attendance for President Biden's address is the baby daughter of Labour senator Rebecca Moynihan.
Elsewhere in the chamber, GAA pundit Joe Brolly had a photo taken with former president Mary McAleese.
Mr Brolly is married to Laurita Blewitt, a Co Mayo native and distant cousin of Mr Biden.
Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy is also in attendance.
