Irish Minister for Trade & Commerce Billy Kelleher has announced that deals for new export sales worth over €9m were signed by Irish firms during this week's trade mission in Russia. The mission was timed to coincide with Irish President Mary McAleese's official visit. Thirty leading Irish firms were represented on the mission, which was organised by Enterprise Ireland.

President Dmitry Medvedev and Irish President Mary McAleese on Thursday discussed various aspects of Russian-Irish cooperation, including trade, economic and humanitarian ties, and prospects for their development. "This is a momentous event because it is the first visit of the President of Ireland to Russia since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries", President Medvedev said at the beginning of the meeting. The Russian leader expressed the hope that the visit of the President of Ireland to Russia will be interesting and productive.

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, will lead an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Russia early September. Details of the visit are typically under wraps for security reasons but the large business delegation accompanying the president includes Mr Billy Kelleher, T.D. Minister for Trade & Commerce and Mr Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland.

After Jameson's, Guinness and Kerrygold now it's McGeady

Irish exports to Russia could now include football players, if Aiden McGeady can be persuaded to accept an offer from Spartak Moscow. According to Sky Sports News the Celtic winger is flying to Russia to hold transfer talks with the Moscow club.