By Ed Forry
BIR Publisher

President Obama welcomed government officials from Ireland and Northern Ireland to the White House last month for the traditional presentation of a bowl of shamrocks. Participating in the East Room ceremonies for the third consecutive year was Ireland’s leader, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who earlier in the day had joined the President and Speaker John Boehner at a St. Patrick’s luncheon in the Capitol building. Also appearing at the early evening ceremony on March 19 were First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Northern Ireland. Obama told the audience that he was looking forward to visiting the island again when the G8 summit meets in County Fermanagh in June.