Taoiseach tiptoes through Brexit minefield in Washington DC ahead of St Patrick's meeting with Trump - Frank McNally (FrankmcnallyIT) reports
The word “gate” has a troubled history in Washington, especially when used in connection with water of any kind. But the slogan had a history that long predated Richard Nixon, having been first used as pro-Irish propaganda in 1919, to argue that Ireland’s harbours should be open to the world - an argument with uncanny similarities to Brexit - and not monopolised by Britain.
He managed to be similarly smooth at the Ireland Funds gala dinner, where speaking on the theme of “celebrating women”, he presented his Government as God’s gift to feminism. The only strained moment in the speech involved a joke that began with the question “How many men does it take to change a lightbulb?” and ended with the answer “not as many as it takes to break through a glass ceiling”.
Among the many women there to hear his speech were Arlene Foster and Mary Lou McDonald. Even the former was wrapped in green for the night, thanks to a sort of tartan sash, which appeared to emphasise the Ulster-Scots end of the verdancy spectrum. In any case, she was seen to drop by the Taoiseach’s table for a chat after dinner. They had plenty to talk about.
On the plus side, there is no threat yet of the red carpet for Ireland being rolled up here yet. As Congressman Richard Neal told the Ireland Funds Dinner audience, a “tiny country” of six million people, north and south, “will command a prominence unmatched in this city” over the few days festivities.
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