McAleese continues North American tour

President Mary McAleese is to visit a charity set up by Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates in Seattle today as part of her official visit to the US and Canada.

She is visiting the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which funds HIV/Aids programmes, before being guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Irish Professionals Network.

The president is being joined in Seattle by a delegation of 29 Irish aeronautical and technological companies, and will attend a number of business events hosted by Enterprise Ireland.

She is also being accompanied on her trip by her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, and Michael Ahern TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

Mrs McAleese has already visited Philadelphia, where she received an honorary degree from Villanova University.

Ms McAleese said she was privileged to receive the degree from the university set up in 1842 by two Irish Augustinian priests, John Rosseter and Matthew Carr.

Some of the university’s past alumni include sporting legends Sonia O’Sullivan, Ron Delaney, who won gold for Ireland in the 1500 metres at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, and Eamonn Coghlan, who set the indoor mile world record in 1983.

Tomorrow, Mrs McAleese is meeting the Mayor of Seattle and visiting the Matt Talbot Centre, a drugs and alcohol treatment centre, before addressing the World Affairs Council.

She then travels to Vancouver, Canada, before returning to Dublin on Sunday.