IRISH-American politician Marty Walsh has been confirmed as the next US Labor Secretary.

The Democrat, who had been mayor of Boston since 2014, was confirmed after a Senate vote by 68-29.

He was nominated as Labor Secretary by US president Joe Biden in January.

Mr Walsh (53), a son of immigrants from Connemara, has retained close links to Ireland and visited Belfast several times.

In 2014, he signed the Boston Sister City Agreement with Belfast.

The agreement led to the Friendship Four ice hockey tournament which has seen US college teams visit the city since 2015.