Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to shift his focus to business engagements in Washington DC after spending the weekend attending largely cultural events in Philadelphia.
This morning, he will meet and speak with representatives from leading Irish and American companies, reports RTE.
Mr Martin, Ireland’s Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason and US Ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh will attend an Amazon and Enterprise Ireland breakfast event at the Dupont Hotel.
Later, the Taoiseach is expected to deliver a speech at the St Patrick’s Day Business Leaders Luncheon, reports RTE.
The Taoiseach is also due to participate in a Fox News interview with chief political anchor Bret Baier, as preparations continue for tomorrow’s high-profile political meetings with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Hundreds of guests, including Mr Martin, are expected to attend the Ireland Funds National Gala tonight at the National Building Museum in Washington DC, reports RTE.
The organisation is marking both its 50th anniversary and 250 years of relations between Ireland and the United States.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will be honoured at the event alongside Democratic Whip in the US House of Representatives Katherine Clark, reports RTE.
Mr Martin was warmly received at an event yesterday at the residence of Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, where he congratulated the national rugby team on securing the Six Nations Triple Crown over the weekend.
He said he would also extend his thanks to England for “doing their very, very best to enable us to win the championship”, referring to their narrow defeat to France which meant Ireland missed out on the Six Nations title, reports RTE.
Mr Martin arrived in the US capital yesterday evening after marking the contribution of Irish people to the building of the United States 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and taking part in Philadelphia’s St Patrick’s Day parade.
He is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Mr Trump and continue the annual tradition of presenting the US president with a bowl of shamrocks to mark St Patrick’s Day, reports RTE.
Ms Byrne Nason formally introduced the Taoiseach to a packed residence yesterday, with hundreds of guests present, including Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Ms Byrne Nason praised the past two days in Philadelphia with Mr Martin, saying they had seen “more of that green thread woven through the great tapestry of the great United States from the very, very beginning” and the “forever romance between Ireland and the United States”, reports RTE.
“It covers our politics, our culture, our history, our business and, most importantly, our peoples, that relationship between the United States and Ireland is enduring,” she said.
Mr Martin said that celebrating St Patrick’s Day in the US carries particular significance as the country marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, reports RTE.
He said: “For Ireland the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is not simply an American anniversary, it reflects a shared history – Irish men and women were present at the founding of this great Republic.
“They served in American armies, worked in America’s cities, contributed to its great debates and helped to inspire its dreams of a brighter tomorrow.
“The Irish helped to build the railroads, schools, churches and the very communities that shaped this great nation, from the earliest days to today, Irish hands and Irish hearts have helped to build America,” reports RTE.
He said Ireland’s own journey to independence was “inspired by the very noble ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence”.
He added “America played a decisive role in supporting peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland”, reports RTE.
“The Good Friday Agreement stands as one of the great diplomatic achievements of our shared history, shaped and sustained by American engagement,” the Taoiseach said.
“The story of Ireland and the United States is not static; it is living, it is evolving, it is being written every day by the people in this room, and as we look forward, we do so with confidence, we look to the next great chapter in the enduring bond between Ireland and the United States,” he added, reports RTE.
Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows was also among the guests.
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, Alliance leader Naomi Long and SDLP leader Claire Hanna have said they will not attend events with Mr Trump at the White House this St Patrick’s Day as part of a stance against his policies, including those relating to the Middle East, reports RTE.
The Taoiseach has so far emphasised the importance of the Ireland–US relationship and highlighted the scale of trade and investment between the two countries.
Ireland is now the fifth largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States, reports RTE.
Speaking in Philadelphia yesterday, Mr Martin said that Shannon Airport is not being used by US aircraft involved in bombing operations in Iran.
He said there had been repeated attempts to link Shannon with both the war in Gaza and the current conflict in Iran, which he described as completely untrue, reports RTE.
Mr Martin added that there are established rules governing the use of Irish airspace and insisted that “we haven’t had any strong evidence that our airspace is being used for any attacks on Iran”, reports RTE.
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