President McAleese is due to fly from Dublin to the United States this afternoon for a five-day official visit to Chicago and Charlottesville in Virginia.
She will be in Chicago on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday for meetings with the Mayor, Richard Daley, and with members of the Irish community and local business groups.
On Wednesday she will attend a conference in Charlottesville and on Thursday she will visit the home of President Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia, where she will be the guest of honour.
The President is due back in Dublin on Friday.
