KERRY Sinn Fein Deputy Martin Ferris will visit the East coast of the United States to take part in St Patricks Day and 1916 celebrations.

The trip takes in Boston, Springfield Tampa, Miami and New York State and will focus on ongoing developments in Ireland and Irish emigrant issues including the undocumented Irish.

It will also focus on the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising and its legacy. It is also an opportunity to highlight the continuing attraction of Co. Kerry as a tourist destination to the Irish American community.

This trip is entirely financed by Friends of Sinn Féin in the US and there is no cost to the taxpayer associated with the visit.

During the trip, Deputy Ferris will be a guest of Boston GAA at the Boston St Patricks Day parade. He will also be guest speaker at the University of Tampa and will lay a number of wreaths at commemorations in New York and Boston.

Deputy Ferris said: “I am honoured to accept this invitation to travel to the US for the 1916 celebrations and look forward to meeting community activists and civic and union leaders during my visit. I particularly look forward once again in meeting with Congressman Richard Neal who has been a great friend to Ireland over many years. I also look forward to meeting Bob Buckhorn, Mayor of Tampa, who I know also takes a keen interest in all things Irish. I would like to thank the Irish community in Boston who have invited me to participate in various functions surrounding the centenary and St Patrick’s Day and I look forward to meeting the many groups that I am scheduled to visit.”