Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny says Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has accepted his invitation to the 2013 Gathering.

Kenny invited Emanuel to join the festivities next year when he led the St Patrick’s Day parade in the Windy City.

The Irish leader was the guest of honor at the parade, in record March temperatures of 82 degrees as 350,000 people piled onto the streets of Chicago.

He later invited those of an Irish persuasion to join Mayor Emanuel in Ireland next year.

 “My message to all those green shirts that I see in front of me here is that our country is on the way back,” said Kenny to much applause.

“Come visit us in 2013 when we have the year of ‘The Gathering’ and we will give you a quality experience that you will never forget.

“In fact, you might never want to come back to Chicago.”