Obama expected within the hour

Less than an hour remains before the US President Barack Obama touches down in Ireland.

Air Force 1 is expected land on Irish soil at 9.35am this morning.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, US Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney, the Government's head of protocol Kathleen White and chief executive of Dublin Airport Authority Declan Collier will greet the President when he arrives.

He will then be taken by the Marine 1 helicopter to Áras an Uachtaráin, where he will meet with the President Mary McAleese, sign the guest book and plant a tree.

He will then travel to Farmleigh where he will meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny for talks that officials say will include all matter of a national interest.

The President will then visit his ancestral home in Moneygall in Co Offaly, before returning back to Dublin to deliver a speech to thousands at College Green.