A St Patrick's Day high on symbolism, warm relations as leaders enjoy 'good old chinwag'

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and US President Joe Biden spoke for one hour and twenty minutes - double the amount of time Leo Varadkar was spared by Trump last year

US President Joe Biden looks at a bowl of shamrocks from Ireland. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP 

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, just as he announced the first national lockdown, Leo Varadkar looked distinctly uncomfortable as he sat alongside a dominant Donald Trump in the Oval Office.