Taoiseach to begin St Patrick’s Day visit to US today

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is due to depart for the United States today for his annual St Patrick's Day visit.

Mr Ahern is due to attend a series of engagements in the run-up to a meeting with US President George W Bush at the White House on Thursday.

His first stop is Syracuse, where he is due to receive an award today from the American Lung Foundation in recognition of Ireland's workplace smoking ban.

Mr Ahern is also due to attend a gala performance of Riverdance to mark the 10th anniversary of the world-renowned show.

Tomorrow, he will attend a reception arranged by the Irish community in Baltimore before moving on to Washington to attend an American Ireland Fund dinner.

The highpoint of the trip comes the following day, St Patrick's Day, when Mr Ahern will present the traditional bowl of shamrock to Mr Bush.