Applause from students and staff of Boston College greeted the UUP leader and the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, when he was awarded an honorary doctorate yesterday. This is the first time the Nobel prizewinner has been awarded an honorary degree.
Outside the football stadium where the ceremony took place, Irish-American groups mounted a protest but were not seen by Mr Trimble. Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston, who spoke at the ceremony, praised Mr Trimble's role in the peace process.
Mr Trimble begins a tour of Canadian cities today to promote investment in Northern Ireland.