The Irish taoiseach huddled with at least one high-profile Democrat before learning he had tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday while visiting Washington, D.C., for traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, according to multiple reports.
Micheal Martin, Ireland’s prime minister, or taoiseach, and head of government, tested positive through a precautionary PCR test after leaving an Ireland Funds gala Wednesday night, the Irish Times reported.
IRELAND SENDS SHAMROCK TO WHITE HOUSE FOR VIRTUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION
Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall informed guests of the news after Martin had left.
A photograph from the event shows Martin seated next to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both unmasked and apparently in the middle of a conversation, as tweeted by a Virgin Media News reporter. Pelosi, 81, is vaccinated but is at higher risk for severe illness at her age.
Taoiseach photographed alongside Speaker Nancy Pelosi at tonight’s Ireland Funds dinner, before news of his positive PCR test came through. @VirginMediaNews
(?: PA’s @oliverzero) https://t.co/mDc0hGyUkX pic.twitter.com/uYVeN26Lij
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) March 17, 2022
The Department of the Taoiseach and Pelosi’s office did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
In a speech, Pelosi called Martin a “beacon of hope to the entire world” and commended his leadership and commitment to aiding the Ukrainian people, according to a video shared by a reporter with The Journal.
The news comes after another member of the Irish traveling delegation also tested positive.
Martin was set to meet with President Joe Biden, who was briefly present at the gala to make a speech, for customary traditions on Thursday. Biden was not in close contact with Martin while at the event, a White House official told Reuters.
Martin was scheduled to attend the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon at the Capitol as well as a shamrock presentation, along with his wife, Mary Martin, at the White House with the president and first lady Jill Biden.
As part of the official St. Patrick’s Day program this year, members of the Irish government will visit 62 cities in 28 countries, according to a statement.
Martin tweeted earlier Wednesday that he had spoken with Vice President Kamala Harris about the “need for unity among democracies” in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Martin also noted that he sent well wishes to Harris’s husband ,Douglas Emhoff, after he tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, a development that reportedly led to the cancellation of his planned visit to their residence for a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast.
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While Thursday’s events might not proceed as originally planned, it is not the first time the two governments have had to adjust. In 2020, the Irish taoiseach sent a bowl of shamrocks and conducted virtual meetings with the White House amid the coronavirus pandemic.
