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MICHEÁL MARTIN HAS said US President Donald Trump has a “standing” invite to make an official visit to Ireland.
Martin was speaking to journalists ahead of taking part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Philadelphia.
Asked about Trump’s plans to visit Ireland either for the Irish Open in September, which takes place at the US president’s Doonbeg resort or the Ryder Cup golf tournament in 2027, which is due to be held in Adare, Limerick, the Taoiseach said he had no details as to whether Trump plans to visit.
“There’s a standing invitation to President Trump to visit Ireland,” he added.
The Taoiseach is due to meet with Trump in the White House on St Patrick’s Day on Tuesday.
“The last number of days here have reassured me or given me a real stronger, renewed sense of the very close sense of Irish-American identity and the connection between Irish America and Ireland, particularly here in Philadelphia, where there’s a very strong communal sense amongst the Irish Americans here,” he said.
The Taoiseach has hailed long-standing connections between Ireland and the United States during his visit so far this weekend, which comes as part of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin setting off in the Philadelphia parade pic.twitter.com/eHLfbvpf7m
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) March 15, 2026
Martin has been highlighting the long-standing Irish connections the US has with Ireland, putting a spotlight on how some signatories of the Declaration of Independence were born in Ireland.
One poster about the 250th anniversary and the Irish connection, which was on stage at Villanova University where the Taoiseach was speaking yesterday, stated: ‘We were here in the beginning.’
Speaking during an address to the Friendly Sons and Daughters of St Patrick’s 255th annual gala attended by 400 business and community leaders in the Pennsylvanian city on Saturday evening, the Taoiseach described his visit to Philadelphia as “regrettably short”, but even in that time he has been “amazed by the depth and enduring connections of the Irish-American community”.
“It is clear that St Patrick’s Day is not just a day here but a whole season of celebrations,” he said.
“As a representative of the Irish Government, it’s always a great source of pride to attend events around the world for St Patrick’s Day and to see first-hand the achievements of our diaspora community and the love they still hold for Ireland.
“It’s that connection to home that makes the Irish community so impactful across the world and has been clearly evident to me in Philadelphia.”
Walking the streets of Philadelphia this afternoon, the Taoiseach was asked to pose for selfies as the crowds of people donned in green outfits shouted at the ‘Irish prime minister’.
When one bystander was told by a policeman that the Irish prime minister was leading the parade, they said: “Wow, just wow.”
Martin walked the eight blocks of the parade with his wife Mary by his side, as well as Irish ambassador to the US, Geraldine Byrne Nason and Congressman Brendan Boyle.
He will later leave Philadelphia for Washington DC for the second leg of his trip. This evening he will attend an Irish embassy event at the residence of Ambassador Byrne Nason.
While the Taoiseach is stateside, the Tánaiste Simon Harris is in London this weekend for the St Patrick’s Day parade. He praised London as “one of the most Irish cities in the world”.
Harris said of London: “We help build this great city. We help contribute to this great city and I’m so proud of the links between London and Ireland, between Ireland and Britain.
“Today is an opportunity to celebrate – to celebrate our values, celebrate our connectivity and to celebrate our connection.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee is in Boston today for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
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