For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 13, 2008
President Bush to Welcome Prime Minister Ahern of Ireland
To commemorate Saint Patrick's Day, President Bush will host Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern at the White House on March 17, 2008. In keeping with a decades-old tradition, the two leaders will participate in the "Shamrock Ceremony," symbolizing the deep cultural roots and close ties of friendship between the United States and Ireland. The President and the Prime Minister ("Taoiseach" in Gaelic) will meet before the ceremony to discuss a range of issues.
After their meeting, President Bush and Prime Minister Ahern will greet U.K. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward and representatives of Northern Ireland's political leadership, civil society, and business community who are leading the way in promoting a new chapter in Northern Ireland's history built on peace, reconciliation, and economic prosperity.
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