US 'loves and admires' Ireland, JD Vance tells Taoiseach ahead of Trump meeting

US vice president JD Vance greets Taoiseach Micheál Martin during a breakfast at the Naval Observatory, his residence in Washington DC, as part of a visit to the US for St Patrick's Day. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has urged US vice president JD Vance to visit Ireland, as the two leaders sat down for breakfast on St Patrick’s Day ahead of Mr Martin's meeting with Donald Trump later today. 

Mr Martin and his wife Mary were greeted by Mr Vance and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance at the US Naval Observatory.

"Glad to have you guys," Mr Vance told them, before they were ushered inside for the breakfast.

At their meeting, Mr Martin presented Mr Vance with a copy of James Joyce's Ulysses.

“They say a week is a long time in politics, but one of the greatest Irish writers, James Joyce, laid bare so much about the human soul in just one day,” Mr Martin said.

“Above all, his book, Ulysses is, of course, a journey. A journey through Dublin, the journey into the meaning that can be found in the everyday, and at some level, a journey home.

“As we continue our own journeys, I'm pleased to present you with a special edition of this masterpiece, and it is our hope that this literary token of Dublin recalls happy memories of your and Usha’s road trip around Ireland and encourages you and your growing family to make a return journey in the not too distant future.” 

The Taoiseach and his wife Mary O'Shea are greeted by US vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance before a breakfast at the Naval Observatory. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

 Attendees at the event with Mr Vance included Ireland’s Ambassador to the US, Geraldine Byrne Nason, and her US counterpart, Edward Walsh.

Also in attendance was Markwayne Mullin, a senator from Oklahoma who has been selected to serve as the new secretary of homeland security, as well as Patrick Collison, the founder of payments firm Stripe.

The Taoiseach singled out Mr Collison, saying he first met him when he was education minister and Mr Collison was a student taking part in the Young Scientists competition.

“He didn't hang around, and he went straight to America to create this great company.”

Later in their meeting, US vice president JD Vance said Ireland is an important economic and trading partner. Mr Vance said about 375,000 US jobs depend on Ireland in one form or another, adding: “But I actually think that understates the cultural friendship between the United States and Ireland.

“So many of the greatest Americans were people who came from Ireland or their families came from Ireland.

“In the Republican Party, of course, we revere Ronald Reagan, a great Irishman and a great president of the United States".

Mr Vance said most people in America know someone with a “deep connection” to Ireland.

“We love it and we admired it, and we cherished the incredible friendships that we have and the great things that Ireland has done for the United States of America.” 

Mr Vance said he is “very grateful” for the friendship of Taoiseach Micheal Martin and “everything that unites the people of Ireland and the United States of America”.

- Additional reporting: PA