Ahern in Boston on final overseas trip

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern travels to Boston today as his continues his final overseas trip in office.

Mr Ahern, who yesterday delivered a historic address at the Houses of Congress, will attend a lunch hosted by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland at the Boston College Club.

The Taoiseach will later give a lecture to Harvard students and members of the Boston and Cambridge Irish Communities at the John F Kennedy School of Government.

A proud Mr Ahern yesterday joined an elite group of five international statesmen to speak at both the US Congress and the UK Parliament in Westminster.

He received several standing ovations during his 40 minute speech in which he focused on peace in Ireland, the friendship between the countries, the undocumented Irish and 9/11 terror attacks.

After the speech, Mr Ahern met President George Bush at the White House, the second time the two leaders have met this year, and was also honoured at a lunch hosted by Richie Neal, chairman of the Congressional Friends of Ireland.

During the lunch, the outgoing Taoiseach presented the group with a sword of Thomas Francis Meagher, a 19th-century Irish revolutionary.

He later attended a reception in his honour at the Irish ambassador’s residence in Washington.

Mr Ahern returns to Ireland tomorrow, just four days before his last official engagement as Taoiseach.

He will visit the Battle of the Boyne site with Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley on Tuesday, before his departure from office on Wednesday.