The London 2012 Olympic Torch arrived in Howth and Dublin this morning.
Thousands of people have turned out to early morning events in Howth, Croke Park and O’Connell Street.
The torch is visiting Ireland as part of the 70-day London 2012 torch relay.
Dublin is the only city outside Greece and the United Kingdom to host the flame.
The torch was passed between two former Olympic boxers, Belfast’s Wayne McCullough and Dubliner Michael Carruth, during a special ceremony at the border early this morning.
Local student Cillian Kirwin from St Fintan’s High School in Sutton had the honour of running with the flame into Howth where he was greeted by the President Michael D Higgins, Lord Sebastian Coe of the London Olympics, Sir Craig Reedie IOC representing Jacques Rogge, Pat Hickey President Olympic Council of Ireland and Mayor of Fingal Cllr Gerry McGuire.
The President told the large crowd the flame’s arrival in Ireland symbolised the growing closeness of the relationship between the UK and Ireland.
After a brief ceremony where the Olympic hymn was sung by school children from Howth, the flame went under Garda escort to Croke Park.
The tour of the city is taking in several historic sites, including the Garden of Remembrance, the GPO and Trinity College.
The relay ends around midday with a celebration at St Stephen’s Green, where the Irish team’s Chef de Mission Sonia O’Sullivan will light an Olympic cauldron to commemorate the visit.
