European focus for St Patrick’s visit

Ireland promoted itself as an EU leader during this year’s St Patrick’s Day visits to the USA.

The Irish EU presidency added to the nation’s influence in America on St Patrick’s Day, as visiting political figures discussed trans-Atlantic trade and immigration in Washington.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed Northern Ireland, the proposed EU-US trade agreement, Syria and immigration reform when they met. Gilmore then reported back to a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Dublin later in the week. Enda Kenny, meanwhile, focused on a shared Irish-American heritage when he addressed the traditional White House reception.

Kenny stated: “Just as we Irish made our own of America, today in Ireland, we do as we have always done. As a nation, we make joy from sadness. As a country, we forge success from difficulty. As a republic, we create ourselves anew. And as we do, we remember and we honour the old.”

This year’s shamrock bowl was made by Sean Egan, a former master engraver with Waterford Crystal who set up his own business after he became unemployed.

“Ever since the first son or daughter of the Emerald Isle set foot here on American soil, this day has served as a reminder of just how many threads of green are woven into the red, white, and blue,” President Barack Obama remarked as he welcomed his Irish visitors.

Obama looked forward to four “very green” years in the White House: “My new Chief of Staff is a McDonough. My National Security Advisor is a Donilon. Our new CIA Director is a Brennan. My new head speechwriter is a Keenan. And [Vice-President] Joe Biden has very kindly agreed to stay on as Irishman-in-Chief.”

The Government hopes that the 50,000 ‘undocumented’ Irish immigrants will benefit from the ‘earned citizenship’ proposed by the Obama Administration. Earned citizenship would involve security checks, and the payment of taxes and a penalty before immigrants are legalised as US citizens. This must be passed by Congress and, in the meantime, the Administration is increasing penalties for US businesses that employ undocumented immigrants.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin was not in the USA due to the Meath East by-election campaign. Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Vice-President Mary Lou McDonald also met Secretary Kerry to discuss the northern political process and the Middle East.

Back at home, President Michael D Higgins recalled how St Patrick faced his “many challenges and adversities” with a “great generosity of spirit, forgave readily and refused to succumb to fatalism or resentment.” He sensed a national determination to “craft with compassion, and in solidarity with each other, a new version of our Irishness, of which we can all be proud.”