President to plant tree in US for balcony horror students

President Michael D Higgins is leaving on an eight-day trip to the west coast of the United States today.

During his visit, President Higgins will plant a tree in Berkeley in California in memory of the six Irish students who were tragically killed when a balcony on an apartment building collapsed in June.

He will also meet members of the Irish community in the states of California and Washington.

Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina will first travel to the northwestern city of Seattle, where he will deliver a keynote address at the University of Washington.

He will also meet the Irish-American Mayor of Seattle, Ed Murray, before travelling south to California.

The Presidential party will meet first responders, volunteers and others who helped the students involved in the balcony tragedy.

While in California, he will meet Governor Jerry Brown and deliver an address at the University of California in Berkeley.