Marty Walsh, the new mayor of Boston whose aircraft was due to touch down in Shannon at about 6am this morning, is most welcome in the country of his forefathers.

Let's hope they didn't roll out the lovely cailíns and blarney like they did for Donald Trump's arrival, or half of Ireland will scream with mortification.

Walsh is over on a 10-day visit (partly private, partly business), which was due to kick off with a 7am press conference this morning. No point in most hacks going to bed, so, if they were to make that one.

He was invited over by the redoubtable Rose Hynes, the chairwoman of Shannon Airport who also chairs Bord Gáis. She led a delegation to visit Walsh in Boston in February, weeks after he entered office.

The mayor was due to address an airport breakfast briefing with 120 guests, including senior executives from US multinationals in the Shannon region.

Walsh will spend some time in Connemara, from where his parents hail, as well as Donegal, Derry, Belfast and Dublin.

He is also due to meet bosses from Primark/Penneys, which will open its first US store in Boston next year.

Walsh will also appear on Brendan O'Connor's Saturday Night Show on Saturday week before flying home.

“It’s a bit like one of our late night shows,” he told locals before he left, presumably referencing Jay Leno and the like.

O’Connor will be beside himself with that one.

Walsh also wants to convince U2 to play a gig at Fenway Park.

Don’t worry, Marty. U2 are going cheap these days.