With a green tie and fresh shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day, President

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Biden on Friday expressed his support for a recent economic deal affecting Ireland when he hosted the republic’s prime minister, a protracted meeting sunk two years in a row by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden was presented with a bowl of shamrocks by Leo Varadkar, known as the taoiseach, a tradition that began in 1952. The shamrocks made it to the White House last year, though then-Prime Minister Michel Martin did not. He came down with COVID-19 and had to participate virtually in the meeting while in isolation at nearby Blair House, where world leaders often stay when they come to visit the White House. The two leaders’ first annual meeting was also virtual due to the pandemic.

It’s good to have you back in the Oval Office, especially on St. Patrick’s Day,” Biden said as he and Varadker discussed their nations’ continued support for Ukraine and how to better deepen their economic ties. We have a lot to discuss.

Biden, who often speaks of his Irish heritage and likes to quote Irish poets, declared March Irish

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American Heritage Month. The White House even painted the South Lawn fountain green for the occasion.

Biden has said he plans to soon visit both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, to mark the 25th anniversary of the US-brokered Good Friday Agreement. That agreement helped end the sectarian violence that has raged for decades over the issue of Northern Ireland uniting with Ireland or remaining part of the UK

We really want to thank you and America so much for your leadership in relation to Ukraine,” Varadker said. We are going to roll out the red carpet for Biden’s visit to Ireland, he said.

The Good Friday Agreement has come under increasing pressure following the UK’s departure from the European Union, but a recent deal between the UK and the EU addresses some of the issues that have arisen around trade and goods that the Irish Sea crossing from

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Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The White House said the agreement, known as the Windsor Framework, is an important step in upholding the peace deal and Biden spoke of support for the framework on Friday, even though Northern Ireland’s political leaders have called for changes.

Varadkar took over for a second term in December as part of a job-sharing deal struck by the country’s centrist coalition government. The two leaders were expected to discuss Ukraine’s continued support in the face of the Russian invasion.

Varadkar and his partner, Matthew Barrett, attended a breakfast with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, at the Vice President’s home, and Varadkar told the crowd there that Ireland is grateful for the close and deep bond with these United States.

He said the US has played a central role in promoting peace in Ireland in critical areas when few others have had the clout to do so. And Varadkar said the US has been strong on LGBTQ rights.

From Stonewall to Sacramento to San Francisco. America has led the way in LGBT equality, he said. I don’t think I would be here today if it weren’t for America.

Varadkar then met with the president in the Oval Office before both went to the Capitol for a lunch with congressional leaders.

Biden was scheduled to hold a reception for Varadkar later Friday at the White House, which itself was designed and built by an Irish-born man, James Hoban. He oversaw its initial construction, rebuilding it after it burned down, and adding renovations until his death in 1831.

According to the Census Bureau, approximately 31.5 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry, second only to German.

Ireland and the United States are forever linked by our people and our passion. Everything between us runs deep, Biden said in his proclamation.

St. Patrick’s Day traditions, such as the turkey pardon and Easter egg roll, have become an annual White House affair.

That’s the beauty of this White House history, said Stewart McLaurin, president of White House Historical

Association Assn.

It is loaded with rich traditions that are cultural not only from our own country.