McAleese for Villanova, Seattle

By Georgina Brennan

Irish President Mary McAleese this month pays a visit to Seattle, the first ever by an Irish head of state to the Seattle area.

From Monday, May 23, until Thursday, May 26, McAleese will tour Seattle with Minister of State Michael Ahern, Irish Ambassador to the U.S. Noel Fahey, and Donal Denham, the Irish Consul General in San Francisco.

McAleese’s will make a speech on Monday night at the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond during the inaugural meeting of the Seattle-area Irish Professionals Network.

On Tuesday she addresses the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the UW’s Kane Hall, an event co-sponsored by the World Affairs Council.

On Wednesday she will visit the Matt Talbot Center, a recovery program and treatment center for the addicted, the homeless and mentally ill, and meet Seattle’s Mayor Greg Nickels.

Prior to her visit to Seattle, President McAleese will be the commencement speaker at Villanova University in Pennsylvania on Sunday, May 22. She will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree.