A St Patrick's Day party will be held in the White House again this year, Republican Party sources have confirmed. Some 250 guests are being invited to a midday reception on Friday 16th. At a one-hour meeting beforehand the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will present shamrock to President Bush. The guest list includes senior members of the administration and many senior Irish-American figures.
Northern leaders are likely to be invited.
Speculation that Ireland would not rate a place on the Bush radar screen was dispelled by strong statements of engagement both to the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, and to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, recently.