St. Patrick's Day reception (1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C.) -- March 14, 5:10 p.m.

President Barack Obama's closest living Irish relative, Henry Healy, has celebrated St. Patrick's Day with his famous kin each year since they first met in Ireland when Mr. Obama visited in 2011. The President's eighth cousin on his mother's side, Healy has just arrived in the District of Columbia. Mr. Obama will devote today (March 14, 2014) to an early St. Patrick's Day celebration, joined by Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny. And apparently by Healy. Mr. Obama will welcome hundreds of guests to the White House this evening for his sixth St. Patrick's Day reception, after a day that will include escorting Kenny to Capitol Hill for the annual "Friends of Ireland" luncheon hosted by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). Related to Mr. Obama through Falmouth Kearney, the President's great-great-great-great-great grandfather from Moneygall, County Offaly, Healy will be in the District until Saturday, he wrote on Twitter on @HenryHealy. The President's Irish lineage was discovered when he first ran for national office. http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2014/03/president-obamas-irish-cousin-henry.html . . . More on Prime Minister Kenny's remarks at Press Conference: [Pres. Obama spoke): We had an opportunity to discuss the fact that Ireland does tremendous work around the world on a whole range of issues. It punches above its weight when it comes to humanitarian efforts. We very much appreciate that. Closer to home, we both share an interest in seeing Northern Ireland continue to take the next steps that are necessary to finally bring an end to what so often has been a tragic history. I was disappointed, the U.S. government was disappointed that the All-Party Talks did not arrive at a final conclusion and agreement. But we're urging the parties to continue to work and negotiate. And I know that the good influence coming from Dublin will help to encourage that to move out of the past and get the kind of history that -- or the kind of future that Northern Ireland so richly deserves. So I greatly appreciate, Taoiseach, your visit. We look forward to a good lunch and I suspect some good Irish music. And we will have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day reception this afternoon. The Taoiseach, I understand, has brought his children here this time, so they’ll be able to celebrate alongside us. And to you and your delegation, thank you again for your friendship and support. PRIME MINISTER KENNY: Let me just say it's a privilege to be here in the Oval Office with the President to continue these traditions and discussions that we've had between our two countries. I might say that on this occasion we did not have to have a detailed discussion about Ireland’s economy. I was able to report to the President the progress our country has made in the last couple years. The President spoke about the issues that we did discuss. In addition to that, we also discussed the question of immigration reform, which is an issue for Ireland and for many other countries, and we hope to pursue those discussions down at the Capitol building later on with a number of other representatives. So it's a privilege to be here. It’s a great occasion for us. And I've given the President a review of the attitude and the happenings at the European Council meeting, particularly in relation to the situation in Ukraine. And we hope that the entirety of message and strength of feeling can prevent very difficult circumstances arising there. I explained to him the European Council meeting presentation by the Ukrainian President, the discussion with the EPP Congress with Prime Minister Cameron in Downing Street earlier this week and our hopes that this matter can be resolved. So, again, my privilege to be here on behalf of the Irish people to wish the President, the First Lady and his family every success in their onerous responsibilities with so many places around the world requiring the assistance of the United States.