The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has invited EU leaders to a celebration in Dublin on May 1st next to mark the accession of 10 new EU members.
The start of Ireland's six-month presidency of the EU in January will coincide with the joining of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Cyprus.
With a major celebration planned in Dublin to mark the accession of the new members, the Minister of State for Europe, Mr Dick Roche, said that 24 EU leaders had been invited to the ceremonies.
News of the invitations follows the disclosure by the Government that senior Government members such as the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, have arranged major meetings of EU ministers in their home constituencies.
Such meetings have been defended by the Government, which has described them as an effort to bring the EU to the regions.
While Mr Roche has said that such meetings and the accession events will put Ireland on the map for "many, many people in Europe", the Government will also be hoping to portray the EU in a positive light in advance of a referendum on the new EU constitution proposed by the Convention on the Future of Europe.
The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is believed to have asked a number of Irish acts to perform at the accession events, which will take place during the May bank holiday weekend. Artists and performers from the new member states will also perform.
Mr Roche said the events would showcase Irish acts but would also concentrate on music and arts of new member states.
The names of the Irish acts approached by the Government could not be confirmed last night, but they are believed to include international acts such as U2.
Mr Roche said: "Street events are planned for Dublin. These will culminate in a major fireworks display. Celebrations will not, however, be confined to Dublin. The overall aim of this celebration is to display the diversity of European culture, and at the same time, the unity of the people of Europe. We will welcome the new members here in Ireland. We want to make them feel at home."