Irish

Another take on St Patrick's Day

Peter Paton  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4814880.stm

Last Updated: Friday, 17 March 2006, 13:25 GMT E-mail this to a friend Printable version White House open again for Adams By Matthew Davis BBC News, Washington Mr Adams has been invited back to the White House Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has had a far warmer reception in Washington than he did on his last St Patrick's Day visit, when the doors of the White House were slammed in his face amid mounting criticism of the IRA. A year ago, America's growing doubts about armed republicanism were crystallised by the response to the story of the McCartney sisters and their campaign to get justice for their murdered brother. While the family's tour of Washington DC culminated in a personal meeting with President Bush, Sinn Fein - the IRA's political wing - found itself frozen out, under pressure in America like never before. Snubbed by Senator Edward Kennedy - the father figure of Irish America - like other Northern Irish politicians they were also barred from the traditional St Patrick's Day reception at the White House. Today, after a year in which the IRA announced an end to its armed campaign and promised to complete the process of decommissioning, politicians are back at the home of the US president. I don't have high regards for Mitchell Reiss's input into this process. If it is he who is advising the president, it's very very bad advice Gerry Adams Some 40 million Americans claim Irish ancestry, and the St Patrick's Day celebrations are a crucial period when Irish politicians gain access to the highest levels of American politics. Mr Adams, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey and SDLP chief Mark Durkan will be among some 1,000 guests at the White House when Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern presents Mr Bush with a traditional bowl of shamrock. But as Irish Americans once again celebrate Ireland's national day - many with a traditional corned beef and cabbage meal - there is still much to cause Mr Adams indigestion. Fundraising ban There remains pressure on him to have the IRA come clean about last year's killing of Robert McCartney. The McCartney family was the only story in town last year The family is in town again, and along with the relatives of murdered Dubliner Joseph Rafferty, are invited to an intimate gathering in the West Wing where they will meet President Bush, Peter Hain, the UK's Northern Ireland Secretary, and Mr Ahern. A row over the US government's ban on Sinn Fein fundraising has also left a bitter taste in Mr Adams' mouth. The US sees the ban as a point of leverage on Sinn Fein in its bid to get the party to end its boycott of the Northern Ireland police force. But arriving at a Friends of Sinn Fein gala breakfast on Thursday, Mr Adams said it was wrong to treat Sinn Fein differently from other political parties. The party has been forced to refund donations that were to be made at the event at Washington's Capitol Hilton hotel. Figures reported in the Belfast Telegraph suggest the ban may not be having a huge impact on the party's US fundraising efforts. Chicago turns its river green as part of the festivities Between May and October 2005 it took in $147,737 (about £80,000), compared with $160,844 in the same period in 2004, the paper said. But there was no mistaking Mr Adams' anger on the issue as he hit out at Bush's special envoy to NI, Mitchell Reiss. "I don't have high regards for Mitchell Reiss's input into this process," Mr Adams said. "If it is he who is advising the president, it's very very bad advice." Celebrations Speaking to a committee of US lawmakers on Thursday, Mr Reiss said that despite "very positive" movement, the Northern Ireland peace process still faces obstacles, including a basic lack of trust between the parties. The celebrations in the United States are as big if not bigger than the celebrations in Ireland Christina McElwaine Irish consulate in New York Yet Northern Ireland is less prominent as an issue in Washington this year, with the main political focus being on efforts to help the estimated 50,000 to 70,000 illegal Irish immigrants in the US. Mr Ahern said he would raise the issue of immigration legislation with President Bush on Friday. For most of those celebrating St Patrick's Day in the US, however, the attention will not be on the politics, but on the lavish festivities. In New York - where the Irish have left an indelible mark - the celebrations culminate with the city's 245th St Patrick's Day parade, the oldest and largest parade in the nation. Send us your pictures The second largest St Patrick's Day parade is in Savannah, Georgia, where more than 400,000 revellers are expected to converge on the coastal city. "The celebrations in the United States are as big if not bigger than the celebrations in Ireland," Christina McElwaine, spokeswoman at the Irish consulate in New York said. "It's because of the warmth felt by not only Irish-Americans but Americans in general towards Ireland. It's really a day of celebration of Ireland whether you are Irish or not."