President to mark anniversary of immigrants' arrival

The president will today mark Irish links with Massachusetts during a state visit to the US state.

Mary McAleese is due to lay a wreath at a Celtic cross commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Irish immigrants in Worcester.

Mrs McAleese will also meet political and cultural leaders during her five-day visit, including US Congressman Richard Neal and former US ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy-Smith as well as the governor of Massachusetts and the mayor of Boston.

The president will today visit Worcester Irish Cultural Heritage Centre before travelling to Boston where she will meet Mayor Thomas Menino and governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick.

Mrs Kennedy-Smith will host a lunch in honour of the president at the John F Kennedy Library and Museum in the state capital.

Mrs McAleese will also attend events hosted by Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the America Ireland Fund during her trip, which concludes on Thursday.

In December the president visited California, Oregon and Arizona during a six-day visit to the US.

Mrs McAleese has also paid state visits to Bulgaria, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Norway and Romania in recent months.