‘An unforgettable day’: Micheal Martin meets JD Vance

A special edition of Ulysses and Donegal wool socks were among gifts exchanged at a meeting between Taoiseach Micheal Martin and US vice president JD Vance.

Mr Martin started what he described as an “unforgettable day” with a breakfast meeting with Mr Vance at his official residence in Washington DC.

The Taoiseach, accompanied by his wife Mary, met the vice president and the second lady of the United States at Number One Observatory Circle.

The meeting is a traditional part of the Irish premier’s annual visit to Washington to mark St Patrick’s Day, and precedes a bilateral with the US president.

In a short address prior to the breakfast, Mr Vance said Ireland is an important economic and trading partner as about 375,000 US jobs depend on the country in one form or another.

He added: “But I actually think that understates the cultural friendship between the United States and Ireland.

“So many of the greatest Americans were people who came from Ireland or their families came from Ireland.

“In the Republican Party, of course, we revere Ronald Reagan, a great Irishman and a great president of the United States.”

Mr Vance said most people in America know someone with a “deep connection” to Ireland.

He added: “We love it and we admired it, and we cherished the incredible friendships that we have and the great things that Ireland has done for the United States of America.”

Mr Vance, who held the same meeting with the Taoiseach last year, said he is “very grateful” for the friendship of Mr Martin and “everything that unites the people of Ireland and the United States of America”.

The breakfast was attended by US ambassador to Ireland Ed Walsh and Stripe chief executive Patrick Collison.

Mr Vance said attendees would be presented with a gift bag including a pint glass and “Donegal-style” wool socks.

The vice president was wearing a pair of socks with shamrocks for St Patrick’s Day.

He said this year’s pair was “slightly more muted” than the ones he wore in the Oval Office last year, for which he said US President Donald Trump “bust my chops”.

Mr Martin also gifted Mr Vance a special edition of Ulysses.

In his speech, the Taoiseach hailed the “welcome” and “hospitality” of the Vance couple.

Mr Martin’s remarks referenced ties between Ireland and the US, and the respective countries’ campaigns for independence.

He said: “Just one mile from where we sit this morning is Robert Emmet Memorial Park, named in honour of the Irish patriot who led a rebellion against the British in 1803.

“And in a famous speech from the dock before he was put to death, he declared: ‘I wish to procure for my country the guarantee which Washington procured for America’.”

Mr Martin said children from “rich and diverse traditions” across the island of Ireland have “made their mark” on the US.

He added: “Throughout the 250 years since America proudly raised the flag for freedom, Ireland’s sons and daughters sought to repay the gift of opportunity through service to their new homeland.

“Irish workers helped craft the skylines of America’s great cities and fortify the fabric of communities across the land.

“Immigrants from my home county of Cork moved to Ohio, where they built the roads, canals and railways, which literally laid the foundations of American greatness.”

The Taoiseach said: “The Scots-Irish who mostly came to Pennsylvania and the Appalachians – an area very close to your heart – brought not only their strong work ethic, but also fiddle tunes, which melded with the African-American banjo to gift to the world bluegrass.

“As firefighters, police officers, nurses, farmers and presidents – 23 of whom have had Irish heritage – our exiled children from all the rich and diverse traditions across our island have made their mark on this proud land.”

In turn, Mr Martin said the US helped craft peace on the island of Ireland.

He said: “America’s unwavering support over decades and from both sides of the aisle made this possible.

“At the darkest and bleakest of times, you – all of you in this room – kept the faith.

“And today that work continues.

“Parties from across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland, along with the Irish and British governments, continue to work hard to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement.

“It enables us to deal comprehensively with the legacy of the past and to engage all the communities and traditions on our island around the shared present and future.”