>>/178382/, >>/178383/, >>/178384/, >>/178385/, >>/178386/, >>/178387/, >>/178388/, >>/178389/, >>/178390/, >>/178391/, >>/178392/, >>/178393/, >>/178394/, >>/178395/, >>/178396/, >>/178397/, >>/178398/, >>/178399/, >>/178400/, >>/178401/, >>/178402/, >>/178403/, >>/178404/, >>/178405/, >>/178406/, >>/178407/, >>/178408/, >>/178409/, >>/178410/, >>/178411/, >>/178413/, >>/178414/, >>/178415/, >>/178416/, >>/178417/, >>/178418/, >>/178419/, >>/178420/, >>/178421/, >>/178422/, >>/178423/, >>/178424/, >>/178425/, >>/178426/, >>/178427/, >>/178428/, >>/178429/, >>/178430/, >>/178431/, >>/178432/, >>/178433/, >>/178434/, >>/178435/, >>/178436/, >>/178437/, >>/178438/, >>/178439/, >>/178440/, >>/178441/, >>/178442/, >>/178443/, >>/178444/, >>/178445/, >>/178446/, >>/178447/, >>/178448/, >>/178449/, >>/178450/, >>/178451/, >>/178452/, >>/178453/, >>/178454/, >>/178455/, >>/178456/, >>/178457/, >>/178458/, >>/178459/, >>/178460/, >>/178461/, >>/178462/, >>/178463/, >>/178464/, >>/178465/, >>/178466/, >>/178467/, >>/178468/, >>/178469/, >>/178470/, >>/178471/, >>/178472/, >>/178473/, >>/178474/, >>/178475/, >>/178476/, >>/178477/, >>/178478/, >>/178479/, >>/178480/, >>/178481/, >>/178482/, >>/178483/, >>/178484/, >>/178485/, >>/178486/, >>/178487/, >>/178488/, >>/178489/, >>/178490/
In 2021, the tradition was held virtually because of Covid. In 2022, the St. Patrick’s Day program returned in person, but Micheál Martin’s planned White House meeting was canceled after he tested positive for Covid.
The ceremony involves the Taoiseach presenting the U.S. president with a bowl of fresh shamrock, one of Ireland’s national symbols, at the White House to mark St. Patrick’s Day.
About 9.4% of Americans are of Irish descent, roughly 31.2 million people.
David Alandete
Diario ABC
Tue. Mar. 17, 8:32 AM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2033898129389453785
White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - VP Pool Report #2 - VP and Taoiseach speak
The Taoiseach arrived at the VP’s residence at 8:38 a.m. The Vances cam out to meet his car. The Vances and Martins shook hands and posed for pictures. The VP and Taoiseach wore matching green ties and their wives wore green dresses. They all went inside together at 8:40 a.m.
Pool was brought in at 8:50 a.m. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Sen. Dan Sullivan and Sen. Dave McCormick were among the group of about 30 guests.
The VP stood and addressed the room, speaking for just under five minutes. He said this event is one of his favorite traditions of being vice president.
The vice president said, “There’s so many common cultural sensibilities" between the U.S. and Ireland. He calls Ireland and “important trading and economic partner.”
“So many of the greatest Americans were people who came from Ireland or their families came from Ireland,” Vance said. He cited Ronald Reagan as an example of “a great Irishman.”
Vance said that attendees would get a gift bag that includes a pint glass and Donegal wool socks.
The Taoiseach spoke for about seven and a half a half minutes. He remarked on the deep history of Irish Americans who made their mark on America and spoke about the country’s 250th birthday this year.
“Irish workers helped craft the skylines of America's great cities and fortified the fabric of communities across the Atlantic,” Martin said.
He also spoke about the economic ties and work around AI technology that the Ireland and the U.S share.
“It is clear that the threads across the Atlantic that are woven through the rich tapestry of the United States, remain strong,” Martin said in closing.
Vance spoke briefly and called up Sullivan, who stood gave a blessing and a prayer. He offered a few Irish blessings, concluding with:
“May the coffee be strong, the remarks be brief, and remember, you can always tell an Irishman, but you can't tell him much.”
He finished at 9:07 a.m. and the pool was escorted out.
That’s it from me today. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Michelle Price
The Associated Press
Tue. Mar. 17, 9:20 AM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2033896799593754634
109