President Michael D. Higgins has accepted an invitation from H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopios Pavlopoulos, to undertake a State Visit to the Hellenic Republic.
The State Visit will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens on Thursday 22 February, followed by a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Mansion of H.E. Prokopios Pavlopoulos, President of the Hellenic Republic.
The two Heads of State will have a bilateral meeting, after which President Higgins will meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. President Higgins will meet also with the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Mayor of Athens, Mr. Yiorgos Kaminis.
In the evening, the President and Mrs. Pavlopoulos will host a State Dinner in honour of President and Sabina Higgins.
On the second day (Friday 23 February), President Higgins will address a breakfast meeting of Irish and Greek business leaders, at an event hosted by the Irish Ambassador in Greece, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, Enterprise Greece and Bord Bia.
Later that morning, President Higgins will receive an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Athens. This will be followed by a lecture by President Higgins on the ancient and enduring relationship between Ireland and Greece and their shared future.
In the afternoon, the President and Sabina will visit the Acropolis Museum in Athens, followed by the Parthenon. That evening, there will be a special performance by Irish and Greek artists at the Megaron Concert Hall, organised by Culture Ireland and the Irish Embassy. This will be followed by a reception in honour of the President and Sabina Higgins hosted by the Irish Ambassador, Orla O’Hanrahan and Claude Malone.
On Saturday 24 February, the President and Sabina will visit a refugee camp near Athens.
