Luck of the Irish! President Biden joins with Ireland PM and Americans to ... trends now
President Joe Biden celebrated his Irish heritage and hosted a Saint Patrick's Day brunch at the White House with Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar - as the two joined millions across the US celebrating the holiday.
Biden and Varadkar were joined by leaders of the Catholic Church and some 200 guests to dine on a menu of traditional Irish dishes including colcannon, Irish soda bread, eggs Florentine and bacon, reported KYMA.
The president wielded a cheat sheet when he welcomed Varadkar on Friday. He was pictured holding a notecard with a pronunciation guide on how to say the name of the Irish leader's title, 'Taoiseach.'
During his brunch speech Biden said, 'You know this has always been a special day for the Biden family and the Biden household. It's not just about heritage, but it really is about faith.
'So much of it being Irish means to be connected to the Catholic teachings that I grew up with. As long as you're alive, you have an obligation to strive. And you're not done until you've seen the face of God. So, keep moving.'
President Joe Biden celebrated his Irish heritage and hosted a Saint Patrick's Day brunch at the White House
The North Lawn fountain is dyed green for St. Patrick's Day
Biden invited Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (right), leaders of the Catholic Church and some 200 guests to celebrate the holiday
'That was her expression for real. And that belief inspired generations of the Irish to keep going even in the face of enormous setbacks and to convince millions of Irish immigrants including my ancestors, many of you here, here today to leave their beloved homeland and begin a new life in America,' Biden said.
Biden took a trip to his ancestral homeland for the first time as president last spring, and said he hoped to return the hospitality that was shown to him there to Varadkar.
People across the United States started celebrating the Irish holiday early on Saturday at several major St. Patrick's Day parades and parties.
The annual celebration of the patron saint of Ireland is traditionally held on March 17, but with it being on a Sunday this year the party started early.
New York City held its St. Patrick's Day parade for the 263rd year with 150,000 people marching 35 blocks of Fifth Avenue and 2 million watching from the street or on TV on Saturday.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams joined crowds and the parade was led by grand marshal Margaret Timoney, chief executive of Heineken USA and Irish native.
Jim Fanucane, mayor of Kerry County, Ireland, attended the parade and told CBS New York: 'It's a particular honor to be asked to be here. That bond between the Irish and the Americans is, it's very
