Kenny tells US Congress of N. Ireland worries

WASHINGTON (AP) — Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny urged U.S. Congress members Tuesday to keep up the pressure for reconciliation between the republic and Northern Ireland.

Lawmakers hosted Kenny and President Barack Obama for an annual luncheon belatedly marking St. Patrick's Day, replete with bagpipes, green-and-white flowers and Guinness beer. Earlier, Obama hosted Kenny for a meeting at the White House, with both leaders wearing green ties and shamrocks in their jacket pockets.

But Ireland's ongoing economic challenges and a tenuous political situation in Northern Ireland formed the backdrop of the festive visit.

At the luncheon, Kenny spoke of "a time of great fragility in Northern Ireland," including violent protests and increased activity by Irish Republican Army splinter groups that have cast a shadow on prospects for reconciliation between Protestants and Catholics there.

"We do not want a situation where those (in the) minority who have bad thoughts and bad blood want to turn the days back to the dark days of the troubles," he said, referring to Northern Ireland's decades of sectarian violence. He implored Obama and Congress to continue supporting peace and progress in Northern Ireland.

Kenny's comments at the lunch, like those of Obama, were closed to reporters, but aides provided transcripts of their prepared remarks.

Obama too reflected on obstacles to reconciliation before his White House meeting with Kenny.

"There's a lot more work to be done before there's true unity in that country," he said.

Obama met separately at the White House with the joint Protestant and Catholic leaders of Northern Ireland's unity government, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.

Police in Northern Ireland have foiled two attempts this month by IRA loyalists to fire mortar rounds at police bases. Most IRA members renounced violence and disarmed after failing to force Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom, the traditional IRA goal.

Saluting the close U.S.-Ireland relationship and the contributions of Irish Americans, Obama also praised Kenny's leadership through difficult economic times and said improvements in their economy helps in trade with the United States.

Kenny said that Obama had signaled his intent to make another visit to Ireland, although it was unclear when that would be. Kenny said Obama's schedule might preclude him from stopping there as part of his trip to the upcoming G8 meeting of leading industrial nations, which is scheduled for June in Northern Ireland.

Both leaders hailed European discount airline Ryanair's announcement Tuesday that it will buy 175 jets from Chicago-based Boeing Co., which has struggled ever since its new 787 Dreamliner was grounded by regulators in January following problems with its electrical system. Ryanair's purchase of the popular 737 jets constitutes the largest order ever placed by a European carrier.

"It's an example how the progress made in Ireland benefits jobs and businesses here in the United States," Obama said.

The St. Patrick's Day celebration provided a lighthearted break for Obama and congressional Republicans from the partisanship and budget fights that have gripped Washington.

House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, sat between Obama and Kenny at the luncheon, and wiped away a tear after singer Anthony Kearns of The Irish Tenors sang a tune called "O' America."

"I'd say this is the loudest gathering of Irishmen in Washington since the last time Joe Biden dined alone," Boehner said, referring to the vice president. "It's like I'm always telling the president: You only tease the ones you love."

After escorting Obama down the Capitol steps to the tune of bagpipes, Boehner patted Obama on the back as he loaded his limo to return to the White House.

"We spend the whole year trying to bring this town together, and these leaders are able to do it in a single afternoon. They even get us to dress alike," Obama said. "So my question is: How long can you stay?"

He cited his mother's ancestral hometown in the small Irish village of Moneygall, joking that he'd brought along documents to prove his claim to Irish heritage but was surprised that people were willing to take his word for it. The joke referred to the discredited claims that Obama was not born in the U.S. and is thus ineligible to be president.

The Obamas later hosted an evening reception at the White House where the president received a bowl of shamrock from Kenny. It's a tradition started under President Harry Truman.