Sinn Féin representatives will travel to the US this St. Patrick’s Day, Michelle O’Neill, the party's Vice President and leader in Northern Ireland, has confirmed.
"We are going to the US in pursuit of peace,” a statement attributed to O’Neill and shared on X, formerly Twitter, by the Sinn Féin International Department said on January 24.
“Continuing to work with the Irish diaspora and US representatives to promote and strengthen the support for the peace process at home and Irish reunification.
“We will also advocate for an end to the Israeli genocidal war and occupation in Gaza and the West Bank.
"For the establishment of a peace process in Palestine and self-determination for the Palestinian people.
“In doing so we will fulfill our promise to the Palestinian Ambassador and the Palestinian people.”
1/4. Confirming that @sinnfeinireland representatives will travel to the US for St Patrick's Day, @moneillsf said:
"We are going to the US in pursuit of peace. #gaza #ceasefirenow pic.twitter.com/dgiv6uTmF0
— Sinn Féin International (@SFIntDept) January 24, 2024
In December, TD Mary Lou McDonald, the President of Sinn Féin, said the party likely wouldn't boycott the annual visit, saying Ireland's relationship with the US is "valuable," but acknowledged that the Irish stance on Palestine differs from the US.
In a tradition that dates back decades, Irish politicians head to Washington, DC every March for St. Patrick's Day events at the White House. The events typically include a presentation of shamrock from the Taoiseach to the US President.
However, calls to boycott the annual visit in 2024 are gaining momentum as the US continues to shy away from calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Ireland's main political parties have been consistent in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza since the conflict erupted in October. The US, however, has either abstained or vetoed several UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire, prompting growing criticism both in the US and Ireland.
Similar to Sinn Féin's stance, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said this week that it wouldn't make sense to boycott the annual St. Patrick's Day visit to the White House.
“The idea that Ireland would just retreat from any engagement to me doesn’t make sense," Martin told reporters on January 23. "I don’t subscribe to that view. We believe dialogue and engaging with countries.”
Leading the calls for the boycott is Ireland's People Before Profit (PBP) political party.
TD Paul Murphy of PBP said "people are rightly angry" about Sinn Féin confirming it would travel to the US this March.
"We should remember that SF opposed the call to expel the Israeli ambassador," Murphy said on X on Thursday.
"They shifted under pressure of the movement. If they can be pressured to change on this, in turn it will put pressure on Varadkar."
He added: "#NoShamrocksForGenocideJoe"
People are rightly angry about this.
We should remember that SF opposed the call to expel the Israeli ambassador. They shifted under pressure of the movement.
If they can be pressured to change on this, in turn it will put pressure on Varadkar.#NoShamrocksForGenocideJoe https://t.co/QxvEgBpwU5
— Paul Murphy 🏳️⚧️ (@paulmurphy_TD) January 25, 2024
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