WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar painted the town green on Friday, celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day _ and touting the US leader’s expected visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday peace accords.

The Taoiseach’s annual White House visit is a cherished tradition on the Irish national holiday.

That has never been more true than under Biden, who frequently trumpets his family roots in Ireland and sprinkles quotes from Irish poems through his speeches.

In front of a fire in the Oval Office, Biden, sporting a sprig of shamrock in his lapel, said Saint Patrick’s is a “big day” in his house.

Varadkar, also wearing shamrock, highlighted US assistance in tortuous negotiations over trade rules between post-Brexit Britain and its Northern Irish province and the Republic of Ireland, which is in the EU.

The arrangement, known as the Windsor Framework, is an “agreement that lasts”, Varadkar said, “which is important for Northern Ireland, and also important for British-Irish and European relations”.

He promised Biden a good time on his coming visit, expected to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the US-brokered Good Friday Agreement, which ended the violent unrest known as the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The agreement was signed in April 1998.

“I promise you that we’re going to roll out the red carpet and it’s going to be a visit like no other. Everyone’s excited about it already. We’re going to have great crowds who would love to see you,” he said.

Varadkar’s day started at breakfast with Vice President Kamala Harris, where “eggs Saint Patrick” were on the menu. Varadkar and Biden then left for lunch at the US Capitol, hosted by Republican speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy.

Post-Brexit deal

Some 32 million Americans -- almost 10 per cent _ claim ancestral roots in Ireland.

Given the long history, the fates of the country and Northern Ireland play outsized roles in US politics.

Biden said on Monday he intended to visit both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who met Biden in California this week, said he was inviting him to Northern Ireland to “commemorate the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement”.

“I know it’s something very special and personal to you. We’d love to have you,” Sunak said.

Expectations have been that Biden was waiting for the British-EU trade dispute to be resolved before he planned a visit.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2023