President Mary McAleese is to embark on a seven-day visit to America today. Her visit will take in Montana, Colorado and Indiana.
Among the highlights of the trip will be a visit to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana where the President will be conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws.
Her programme will begin tomorrow when she visits the University of Montana in Missoula to launch an Irish studies programme and meet members of the local Irish community.
The President will then visit the mining town of Butte, which has strong historical links with the Beara Peninsula in Cork.
On Thursday she will travel to Denver, Colorado, where she will meet Irish-American business and community leaders. She will also be guest of honour at a state dinner hosted by the Governor of Colorado and will address faculty and students of Regis University.
The President will also be the keynote speaker at a business event hosted by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
The conferring at the University of Notre Dame will take place on Sunday and she is expected back in Ireland on Tuesday, May 23rd.
