President Mary McAleese today begins a three-day state visit to Bulgaria.
Mrs McAleese will receive a ceremonial welcome in the capital, Sofia, before holding talks with President Georgi Parvanov.
The President will also meet with prime minister Sergey Stanishev and members of the National Assembly.
A visit to St Alexander Nevski Cathedral, one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, is also on the itinerary.
A spokeswoman added: “On Thursday, the president will speak at St Kliment Ohridski University, Sofia on the growing relationship between Ireland and Bulgaria and visit the Aran Islands Photographic Exhibition in the Ethnographic Museum,” a spokeswoman said.
“The President will then address a business lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland, visit the Centre for Autism and attend an Irish community reception.”
Visits to Bachkovo Monastery and the Old Town of Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city are scheduled for Friday.
The President, who will return to Dublin on Friday evening, is also due to attend the World Cup qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria at Croke Park on Saturday evening.
Last September Mrs McAleese paid a state visit to Bulgaria’s neighbour, Romania, which also joined the EU in 2007.
PA