The Irish President will visit New York on the 20th May on a four-day trip. Her husband, Martin, will join her.

During her stay she will lead the National Day of Commemoration. The Commemoration will honour the 1.5 million people, who either perished or emigrated from Ireland during the Great Irish Famine of the 1840’s.

While in New York she will also promote Irish economic links with the United States and strengthen links with the Irish community.

Her tour will begin on Thursday, May 20, with an event sponsored by the Irish Voice newspaper. The event will honour Irish-Americans involved in the life sciences sector.

Friday, May 21, will see the President attend a breakfast for business leaders in the New York Stock Exchange.

She will then visit with the children of PS 197 in Brooklyn. The President will hear from the children how they are learning about the Great Famine in Ireland as part of the New York school’s curriculum.

From there President McAleese will open a seminar “Hunger in the 21st Century: Ireland and the fight against famine." The seminar is being organised by Self Help Africa and Concern and willl take place at the Consulate General of Ireland.

Next, she will visit the American Irish Historical Society to meet with members of our older community. With them she will mark the first anniversary of Senior Connect, a group who encourage the older generation to stay in touch online.

On Friday evening, President McAleese will open “Ireland’s Great Hunger/An Gorta Mór”, the Quinnipiac University Collection exhibition, at the Consulate General of Ireland.

Saturday will see the President deliver the commencement address to graduates at Fordham University in the Bronx.

The President will conclude her trip on Sunday when she will attend a ceremony to mark the generosity of the New York Jewish community to the people of Ireland during the Famine. The ceremony will take place in Congregation Shearith Israel. (To read more click here)

On Sunday the President will also attend a mass celebrated by Archbishop Timothy Dolan in St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Her trip will end with the official New York commemoration of the Great Famine at the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City.