If you hail from Ireland, you are warmly invited to the parlour – alongside the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, and Lincoln Bedroom. A flurry of dipping temperatures coupled with unpredictable shifts may signify the arrival of St Patrick’s Day, and with it, the conventional diplomatic attack on Washington DC. The usual deliberation regarding the continuation of the tradition lingers.
Matthew Scully, an ex-speechwriter for George W Bush, expressed light-hearted despair in a 2005 New York Times article, questioning the numerous ways to receive a bowl of shamrocks or to honour the distinguished characteristics of the gallant Irish population. The query made sense at that time, and it still does to those who view the entire spectacle with a sceptical or suspicious perspective.
Monday will see Taoiseach Leo Varadkar flying to the US as a part of his yearly St Patrick’s Day visit – his first commitment is an event taking place that evening at the JFK Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. Brendan O’Leary, Lauder professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania, noted, “I would prefer that the Taoiseach and ministers travel business class, have a restful night, and lobby effectively rather than taking economy class and feeling exhausted.”
Subsequently, Varadkar will shift his focus to Washington DC on Wednesday and have a Friday meeting in the Oval Office with US president Joe Biden, at the White House. This will be followed by a visit to Capitol Hill to interact with the US President and congressional leaders. This is considered a unique event in the Washington political calendar, offering a chance for Democrats and Republicans to mingle socially. Varadkar’s visit to the White House will conclude on Sunday, St Patrick’s Day, with the informal shamrock ceremony.
Even though there were requests in Ireland for the government to neglect this year’s event as a symbol of protest against the ongoing military assault on Gaza by US ally Israel, these calls have been disregarded. Typically, there are murmurs about the cost incurred flying the Taoiseach and his crew across the Atlantic for what can seemingly be viewed as an informal conversation. Brendan O’Leary dismisses these grumbles, stating, “I have no tolerance for such narrow-mindedness”.
O’Leary advocates for Taoiseach and ministers to fly business class for better effectiveness in lobbying efforts rather than being exhausted from economy class. He maintains that the significance of Ireland’s easy access to the world’s most powerful nation, the United States, is greatly undervalued. He asserts that for smaller nations it’s imperative that they engage with the dominant global power, the United States, regardless of their affinity towards it. Their open receptivity to Ireland’s interests, he remarks, is truly noteworthy and should not be underappreciated nor ignored.
O’Leary draws attention to the fact that the British failed to recognise the influence of Richie Neal, a Democratic congressman from Massachusetts and co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Ireland caucus. He noted that Neal’s importance in Congress and Ireland’s strong diplomatic relations with the US were prominently displayed during the Brexit fiasco.
The scholar confirmed that Neal’s approval is necessary for any trade agreements. Speaking about the Irish influence in the USA, Dan Mulhall, former Irish ambassador to the US, expressed a positive surprise regarding the enduring connection Irish Americans still feel towards their ancestral land. Despite sceptics arguing that this bond was waning, Mulhall found the opposite to be true and criticised sceptics for being cynical.
He warned it could be detrimental to ignore such an opportunity and was pleased that the government dismissed any calls to distance themselves from Washington over the Gaza situation.
Mulhall’s inaugural St Patrick’s Day in Washington saw him visiting the former American President, Donald Trump, along with many administration officials with a declared Irish-American heritage, like Mike Pence, who had Irish-born grandparents.
Presently, Irish-American politics have a significant influence on the broader political landscape in America. The conflicts within the Irish-American community often play out in parallel discussions about what constitutes genuine Irishness. Notably, the Catholic authorities in New York until recently excluded gay Irish-Americans from the annual St Patrick’s Day parade. Progressive Irish-Americans criticise conservative influencers like Steve Bannon, a former strategist for Trump, accusing them of betraying their immigrant ancestry. This could be seen as the culmination of the Irish community’s impact on the United States, influencing its political narrative.
The tradition of presenting a handful of shamrock to the White House might be seen as a delightful slip-up. The custom commenced when Ambassador John Hearne presented a box instead of a crystal bowl to Harry Truman. Appreciative of the sentiment, Truman was absent from the White House at the time. He was the first US president to join the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York, initiating a tradition.
According to Dr John Gibney from the Royal Irish Academy, St. Patrick’s Day had always been a part of the national calendar and did not begin in 1952. The act of Hearne presenting the shamrock-filled bowl, he says, began a tradition that continued.
A few American Presidents, such as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and current President Joe Biden, have always displayed a deep personal sentiment tied to their Irish heritage, with Biden openly demonstrating his affection and interest in Ireland.
By the time President John F Kennedy was serving, St. Patrick’s Day had become a standard part of the presidential schedule. Irish ambassador Dermot Gallagher, during the 1990s, was the one who suggested that the Taoiseach should present the shamrock to the White House, establishing a precedent that continues to this day.
Several past presidents, including the likes of Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Biden, have openly showcased their deep personal pride in their Irish roots. Biden in particular, carries his admiration for Ireland and his avid interest in its culture as a significant badge of honour.
The yearly taoiseach-president meeting held in the White House is an intersection of both past connections and familial roots. It showcases the emotional journey of Irish immigrants to America, the practical mutual advantages of the US investing in Ireland, and more recently, the contribution of the Irish in the American business landscape. Irish-Americans as an ethnic entity continue to hold political power that is crucial to the interests of both nations. In addition, it traditionally serves as an excellent location for fundraising events.
As claimed in Conor O’Clery’s “The Greening of the White House” and confirmed by Brendan O’Leary, the current wealth stature of Irish-Americans is impressive. So is the potential of this wealth for supporting pro-Irish initiatives. O’Leary also points out how the Irish political party Fianna Fáil was once considered the wealthiest due to its allied connections in the US. However, it is now believed to have been surpassed by Friends of Sinn Féin.
O’Leary further states, “Irish-America has consistently been of political importance to Irish parties and continues to be so.” He adds that Ireland, much like Israel, has an astonishingly special bond with the US, regardless of its small size. Notably, it is impressive that an American president would purposely dedicate time to such a small country.
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