Lady in waiting Hillary Clinton bids to woo Irish vote

As she prepares to announce a likely bid for the US presidency, Hillary Clinton has accepted an invitation to attend an Irish event in New York to mark St Patrick’s Day in what is seen as a major coup for the Irish lobby.

While she is unlikely to show her hand on her presidential plans, it will certainly be a chance for her to connect with Irish voters at a crucial time and remind them of the role she and her husband played in helping to broker a peace deal in the North when Bill Clinton was president.

Mrs Clinton had been expected to enter the presidential race in April but is now considering waiting until July to make a formal announcement, though she may give details on an exploratory committee in the coming weeks.