The Greening of the White House - NBC 10 Philadelphia

The Greening of the White House

Obama lauds Irish, US ties



    The Greening of the White House
    The White House fountains go green.

    WASHINGTON -- The Obamas couldn't bring the Chicago River to Washington for St. Patrick's Day, so they did the next best thing: they dyed White House fountains' water green.

    It's the first time the water in the White House fountains on the north and south lawns has been dyed, spokeswoman Katie McCormick Lelyveld said. The green hue will stay until the dye runs out.

    White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers said she and the first lady discussed turning the fountain green, and Michelle Obama liked the idea.


    Washington doesn't have the same Irish roots as Chicago, DCist notes, so the District usually just has its well-attended parade and the usual drunken revelry at bars and restaurants.




    The president took part in a shamrock ceremony at the White House, and then was meeting with Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy, Martin McGuinness, in a less high-profile gathering in his national security adviser's office.

    Administration aides have singled out Prime Minister Brian Cowen, Robinson and McGuinness as leaders who have resisted partisan reactions to a series of killings in Northern Ireland that threatens a decade's break in violence.




    Obama and the Irish leaders were attending a Capitol Hill luncheon celebrating the holiday. Then the Irish guests were invited back to the White House for a cocktail reception Tuesday night that the new president's aides say will be equal parts diplomacy and revelry.

    Obama told Cowen that it was great he was visiting the Oval Office, but it was too bad he was missing the Irish parade in Chicago, Obama's hometown. He called it "one of the great events in America."

    Both Obama and Cowen also made a point to characterize the U.S.-Irish relationship as one of substance in bilateral and global affairs.

    "It is a great day for the Irish in America today," Cowen said.
