The Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD, travelled to Atlanta, Georgia overnight ahead of the opening of the first ever Irish diplomatic mission in the Southern United States.
The new Consulate is being opened in Atlanta, Georgia as part of the rollout of the new Strategy for Ireland-US Relations launched by the Taoiseach last year.
To celebrate the opening, the Taoiseach and the newly appointed Consul General, Mr Paul Gleeson, will meet with Governor Sonny Perdue in the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.
Later, the Taoiseach will make a keynote speech on the Ireland-US relationship to the Irish Chambers of Commerce USA.
He will also meet with leading Georgia-based businesses who have invested and created jobs in Ireland.
Speaking on his arrival in Georgia, the Taoiseach said:
" Today is a historic day in Ireland-US relations.
The twin touchstones of the Government's new strategy for Ireland-US relations are to protect and nurture the centuries old bonds of Irish-America, while also opening up to new ideas and new places.
It is of course well-known that the Irish have great links to the state of Georgia and the Southern United States.
However, our diplomatic focus since the foundation of the State has tended towards the more traditional Irish areas of Boston, New York, Chicago and San Francisco.
Those old links continue to go from strength to strength.
From today, we can look forward to an important new link in Ireland's network in America.
Atlanta will be a new gateway for the Irish in America - for trade, for business, for culture, for education and for tourism
This is a sign of the new modern relationship between Ireland and America and a significant investment in the future of our country ".
ENDS