St. Patrick’s Day festivities took place both in Boston, USA, and in Washington D.C., celebrating Irish heritage with a blend of traditional and cultural events. In Boston, the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade attracted around 1 million people, celebrating not only Irishness but also marking Evacuation Day from the Revolutionary War. The event featured various activities including a memorial Mass, a boxing tournament, and a concert by the Dropkick Murphys. In Washington, President Joe Biden, who is known for his Irish roots, hosted a St. Patrick’s Day brunch at the White House for Catholic leaders and Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, emphasizing the Irish decor and surroundings to honor the occasion.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald defended her St. Patrick’s Day visit to the US, aiming to engage with senior American officials amid the conflict in Gaza. Speaking on Sky News, she emphasized the importance of advocating for a ceasefire and addressing the violence in Gaza through concrete actions rather than words. Rejecting calls for boycotting events, McDonald highlighted the necessity of utilizing strong Irish-American relations to push for peace in the Middle East.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, during his visit to the White House for the annual shamrock ceremony, announced his plan to address the Gaza situation, advocating for diplomatic engagement over boycotts. Criticizing the US’s policy of supplying arms to Israel, Varadkar underscored the focus on advocating for a ceasefire and supporting humanitarian aid for Palestine. He emphasized that his visit to Washington D.C. was part of a broader diplomatic effort aimed at fostering dialogue and addressing global conflicts.

Furthermore, Varadkar expressed concerns regarding the prospect of a Sinn Fein-led government in Ireland, citing potential risks to the country’s economic stability and policy directions in areas such as foreign policy, trade, and justice. He reiterated that forming a coalition with Sinn Fein is not on his party’s agenda due to fundamental disagreements on several policies, emphasizing the importance of economic alignment and shared values in government partnerships.