Leaders of the Irish Republican Army's political wing head to Saint Patrick's Day events in the US this week battered by a furore over IRA crime, shut out of talks in Washington and banned from its annual fundraising drive among Irish-Americans.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, who is now in New York, has been omitted from official events hosted by US President George W Bush and denied a meeting with the powerful Irish-American senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy.

Washington has now also banned Sinn Fein from fundraising during its annual pilgrimage this week to the US, according to reports.

Celebrations around St Patrick's Day - held every March 17 in honour of Ireland's patron saint - have traditionally been used to rally support among Irish-Americans who are major contributors to the party coffers.

But this year, according to Britain's Times newspaper, US State Department officials say it would be "unacceptable" for Sinn Fein to go seeking cash.

Sinn Fein refuted the report.

"There is absolutely no truth in the story," a Sinn Fein spokesman said.

He said the party had opted out of its annual fundraising among Irish-Americans of its own accord.

Adams said he was disappointed Bush did not invite him to the White House for St Patrick's Day but still believed the US was committed to the peace process.

Adams, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, said it was a symbolic "disappointment" but he wasn't overly worried.

Adams also said he was "disappointed" by Kennedy's decision to cancel their meeting.

Kennedy's spokeswoman, announcing the senator was shelving the meeting with Adams - held every St Patrick's Day since the Good Friday peace deal in 1998 - put the responsibility firmly on Sinn Fein to help stem IRA crime.

PHOTO CAPTION

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is shown during an event in South Orange, N.J., Monday, March 14, 2005. (AP)