Unlike any other small country, Ireland’s Taoiseach gets unparalleled facetime with the leader of the free world in the White House to mark St Patrick’s Day.
In a tradition since 1952, it is usually smiles, camaraderie and photos as a bowl of Shamrock is handed over to the US President.
It is the high water mark in US-Irish relations and part of a week of diplomacy, dinners and drink receptions.
For the Taoiseach, meeting the US President is a golden political opportunity. But this year it is different.
The conflict in Gaza has created an uncomfortable pall over what is usually the highlight of the year for the Taoiseach.
As the US is seen as an ally of Israel, few were surprised that some figures on the far left in Ireland criticised Leo Varadkar for planning to go to Washington next month.
But the news that SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has pulled out because of Gaza also puts pressure on Sinn Féin politicians who are regular attendees at the White House.
Since October, around 27,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza – according to the Hamas controlled Ministry of Health.
This is in addition to around 1,100 people Hamas killed in Israel on 7 October.
People Before Profit has urged a boycott of all St Patrick’s Day visits, including the White House.
Mick Barry, TD for Cork North Central, said there was “strong opposition…throughout the solidarity movement for Palestine to the idea of the Taoiseach going to Washington and giving the bowl of shamrock to Joe Biden, while Joe Biden is involved up to his neck in supporting a genocide. The ICJ ruled last week that Israel has a case to answer in relation to genocide.”
He said that opposition extends to all parties and noted that the SDLP was boycotting the event.
“We think that all parties with invites and all politicians with invites should boycott the event as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
“There’s deep disquiet among people who have been marching in support of Palestine… at the fact Sinn Féin intends to go to Washington on March the 17th.”
Read the latest on the conflict in the Middle East
PBP TD for Dún Laoghaire, Richard Boyd Barrett said: “The idea that any Irish political representative would glad-hand the US President when he is deeply implicated in arming a state, to commit what is possibly a genocide… would be utterly shameful.”
Mr Eastwood said he will be refusing the invitation to the White House.
“We’re going to continue to engage with Irish America,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
“But, given the fact we’re watching genocide unfold on our television screens every night of the week and that the American administration has been totally weak in trying to stop it, I just don’t think it’s appropriate for me, and I’m not commenting on anybody else, but for me to go and drink Guinness and pretend everything’s OK in the White House in that celebration, I just don’t think that’s the right thing to do.”
On whether he was missing an opportunity to talk to the US administration, and try to convince it to take a tougher line with Israel, he said “it is much more influential to take a stand in this way”.
He said the Taoiseach was in a different position.
“This is unfolding in a way that’s catastrophic for the people of Palestine, and I think we have an opportunity to make a point, to send a message that we’re not just going to pretend things are normal and that everything’s OK.”
Asked if he would urge Sinn Féin to reconsider, Mr Eastwood said: “I’ve made my decision, Sinn Féin have to make theirs, I just frankly think that some things are more important than raising money in America.”
“Obviously my position is that we shouldn’t be there to celebrate, as I’ve said the Taoiseach has a particular role, he’ll have lots of formal face time with the President and will be able to send a clear message, but I don’t think either myself or Mary Lou McDonald will be able to make any kind of real protest by catching Joe Biden between pints of Guinness,” he added.
“I’ve been to the White House celebration many times before, it is not a formal engagement where you can make real impact, and I think Sinn Féin know that…but I’ll not be going anyway.”
Gerry Adams was recently quoted in the Business Post as saying that the Palestinian people would understand if Sinn Féin went to the White House.
At a gathering for party activists at a Dublin GAA club, Mr Adams told the audience that the visit should be used as an opportunity to raise the struggle of the Palestinian people with the American authorities and to call for peace.
Asked about his trip to the White House, which he pointed out has yet to be confirmed, Mr Varadkar said he hoped there would be a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas before 17 March.
“The US has a role to play in helping to bring this conflict to an end.
“I think the opportunity of going to the White House is an opportunity for me as Taoiseach to share the views of the Irish people with the US President in relation to this matter, and I don’t see why we’d pass that up.”
The Taoiseach said he did not think a boycott would send a stronger message.
“If we leave our seat empty, we’re just not there and we just get ignored… somebody else just fills our slot.”
