Editing Áras an Uachtaráin (section)

==Visitors==
[[File:Aras Gates.jpg|thumb|right|The main gate to Áras an Uachtaráin is located adjacent to the Phoenix Monument, at the centre of the park]]
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Various visiting British monarchs stayed at the Viceregal Lodge while Ireland was part of the United Kingdom, notably [[Queen Victoria]] and King [[George V]]. American presidents hosted there include [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Richard Nixon]], [[Ronald Reagan]], [[Bill Clinton]], [[Barack Obama]], and [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0413/1376821-biden-aras-an-uachtarain/ | title=US President rings Peace Bell at Áras an Uachtaráin | date= 23 April 2023}}</ref> Former Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] has also visited. Other famous visitors to Áras an Uachtaráin have been [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Aung San Suu Kyi]], Prince [[Rainier III]] and Princess [[Grace of Monaco]]; King [[Baudouin of Belgium]]; King [[Juan Carlos I]] and [[Queen Sofía of Spain]]; [[Pope John Paul II]]; [[Prince Charles]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]; Indian prime-ministers [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] and [[Narendra Modi]]; and [[Pope Francis]].

On 17 May 2011, Queen [[Elizabeth II]] became the first British monarch to visit the residence in 100 years, on the occasion of her state visit to Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13425722|title=Queen lays wreath on Republic of Ireland state visit|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=17 May 2011|date=17 May 2011|archive-date=23 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123114533/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13425722|url-status=live}}</ref> She was welcomed by President [[Mary McAleese]], inspected a [[guard of honour]], signed the visitors book and planted an [[Quercus petraea|Irish oak]] sapling.

Guests do not normally stay at Áras an Uachtaráin. Although it has 92 rooms,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtourism.com/aras-an-uachtarain|title=Áras an Uachtaráin|work=IrishTourism.com|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026052230/https://www.irishtourism.com/aras-an-uachtarain|url-status=live}}</ref> many of these are used for storage of presidential files, for household staff and official staff, including military [[aides-de-camp]], a secretary to the president, and a press office. Foreign dignitaries usually stay at [[Farmleigh]], the [[State guest house]], located close to Áras an Uachtaráin in [[Castleknock]].

On 1 May 2004, during Ireland's six-month presidency of the [[European Union]], Áras an Uachtaráin was the Venue for the ''European Day of Welcomes'' ([[2004 enlargement of the European Union|Accession Day]]) in which ten new members joined the EU. All 25 heads of government attended the flag-raising ceremony in the gardens of the building. A large security operation involving the [[Garda Síochána]] and the [[Defence Forces (Ireland)|Irish Defence Forces]] closed off Áras an Uachtaráin and the Phoenix Park.

Like most [[Office of Public Works|OPW]] buildings, Áras an Uachtaráin is open for free guided tours every Saturday.