Gareth O'Callaghan: Traditions matter but it's time we were honest about the St Patrick's Day trip

Irish people no longer emigrate to America out of desperation. Those days are long gone. We need to stop thanking them for gifting us a better existence

It’s expected Taoiseach Micheál Martin will bring up the case of Seamus Culleton when he sits down with US president Donald Trump in the White House for St Patrick’s Day.

“Nothing stirs the heart like liberty which is very much on our minds these days.”

Ronald Reagan spoke these words as he stood beside Garret Fitzgerald on St Patrick’s Day in 1986. Our taoiseach was making the annual visit to meet the president.