TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen’s St Patrick’s Day visit to the United States began last night in New York at the American Irish Historical Society, where he spoke of the need to renew the relationship between Ireland and the US.
Mr Cowen presented an award to Dr Kevin Cahill for his work on chronicling the history of the Irish in America.
This morning Mr Cowen will go to the World Trade Centre where he will deliver an address to a trade breakfast organised by Enterprise Ireland.
The event is designed to help Irish exporters maintain and develop existing business. Over 100 exporters across all sectors of the economy are involved.
Later Mr Cowen will address the Ireland-US Council at lunch in the New York Athletic Club with tourism being the theme of the event. He will then travel to Washington where he will be a guest at the American Ireland Fund dinner at the National Museum Building.
Tomorrow morning Mr Cowen will hold a meeting with President Obama at the White House at which relations between the two countries, the latest developments in Northern Ireland and the world economic situation will be discussed. Vice president Joe Biden and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, will attend the meeting as will the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin.
After the talks Mr Cowen will present the president with a bowl of shamrock in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
He will then depart for Capitol Hill for the annual St Patrick’s Day lunch hosted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in the Rayburn Room, Capitol Building. That evening he will attend a St Patrick’s Day reception at the White House hosted by president and Mrs Obama. He will return to Ireland on Wednesday morning.