President Mary McAleese is to visit New York later this week where she will attend a number of events to commemorate the Great Famine.
During the trip, which runs from May 20th-23rd, the Mrs McAleese will be at a number of functions to promote Irish-US economic relations and to strengthen links with the Irish community in the city.
The President will attend a breakfast for business leaders at the New York Stock Exchange, visit the American Irish Historical Society to meet with members of the older Irish community, and be conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws at Fordham University in the Bronx, where she will deliver the commencement address.
On the final day of the visit, Mrs McAleese will attend a ceremony at Temple Shearith Israel to mark the generosity of the New York Jewish community to the people of Ireland during the Famine in 1847. This will be followed by the official New York commemoration of the Famine at the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City.
Pat Carey, Minister for Community Affairs, will accompany Mrs McAleese to New York.