Here is the menu served and free gifts given to political leaders at private Dublin dinner

The private gathering was held in the National Gallery.

The private gathering was held in the National Gallery last night, Thursday, November 12, following a day of talks in Dublin’s Convention Centre.

Around 25 EU leaders were in the capital for meetings associated with Ireland's EU Presidency.

The menu served at the intimate dinner was designed and delivered by TV Chef Mark Moriarty who said he and his team was "honoured and delighted to represent Irish hospitality, and to showcase our chefs, producers, and food makers to Leaders and Prime Ministers from all across Europe and beyond."

He continued: "We hope we’ve done the industry proud and put on a show that highlights what 21st-century Irish food and hospitality are all about."

For the starter, the VIPs were served a baked potato sourdough with Glenilen farm butter, celeriac baked in barley yeast, hazelnut and fino sherry sauce.

Mains gave the choice of Sally Barnes wild Irish smoked salmon with BBQ butter sabayon and green apple, or a strip loin of dry-aged beef with artichoke and seaweed.

Both dishes were served with roasted bone marrow jus gras, roasted cabbage, bacon, herbs and mashed potato.

An Irish coffee gateaux and salted Irish milk sorbet was given for dessert while the wines on the menu were Labeille De Fieuzal Blanc 2023 and Réserve de Léoville Barton 2019.

There was also entertainment at the gathering with Olwen Fouéré performing WB Yeats' poem The Song of Wandering Aengus, and Tolü Makay sang Danny Boy, both accompanied by a choir.

The Taoiseach said after the dinner he was "delighted to offer the leaders" the opportunity to "enjoy the best of our world-renowned produce."

"As well as the high quality of our produce we are rightly known around the world for our literature, music and art, and it was apt that our guests experienced the best of all three from Maynooth University Chamber Choir, Olwen Fouéré and Tolü Makay in our beautiful National Gallery," he added.

Attendees also were given a Christmas tree ornament with 'Nollaig Shona' written on it from Caulfield Country Boards in Meath, as well as several other gifts including a notebook from Duffy’s Book Binder and a specially crafted presidency scarf made by Cushendale Woollen Mills in Kilkenny.

A spokesperson for the country's EU Presidency said: “Made by a small team in Kilkenny, using skills and techniques developed over generations, it brings a distinctly Irish story to the Presidency.

“For those who receive it, the scarf is intended as a memento of Ireland’s 2026 Presidency, and as an example of the craft, creativity and expertise found in communities across Ireland today.”