Ah, the time-honored ceremony of the Shamrock Bowl.

What a beautiful way to start the day.

The time-honoured tradition of the Shamrock Bowl ceremony is an important moment to reflect upon the relationship between our two countries.

Our peoples have stood side by side for a long time.

Irish-America has been at the heart of shaping this great nation. pic.twitter.com/ITOCBpwoZs

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 12, 2025

Irish Prime Minister (or Taoiseach, as the Irish call it) Micheál Martin spent some time visiting President Trump at the White House yesterday

It seemed to come as something of a surprise to Martin to find that he had an expat American resident in his country who is somewhat infamous in our own.

PM Martin was clearly confused by the reporter's question.

REPORTER: "Ireland is known for very happy, fun loving people ... Why in the world would you let Rosie O'Donnell move to Ireland!?"@POTUS: "Did you know you have Rosie O'Donnell? Do you know who she is?"

Taoiseach: .....@POTUS: "You're better off not knowing."

😂🤣😂 pic.twitter.com/TL9HpKw89i

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 12, 2025

In fact, it was kind of a pleasant surprise to a lot of Americans. I mean, who knew? Contrary to what you'd expect from past performance, the ordinarily garrulous and unabashed big-mouth O'Donnell slid herself out of the country like a thief in the night.

The Department of Education is getting gutted and Rosie O’Donnell has self-deported to Ireland.

Now I’m even angrier that Daylight Savings Time robbed us of an hour of winning.

— John Ocasio-Rodham Nolte (@NolteNC) March 12, 2025

And even though she self-deported to what amounts to a majority white, English-speaking, dystopian/authoritarian socialist hellhole government-wise country, I will give her credit for follow-through that scarce few virtue-signaling celebrities have shown so far.

Well 3 down and 74 more to go: "Rosie O’Donnell announced that she has left the United States and will be living in Ireland." pic.twitter.com/euZ9kWDhmm

— James Johnson (@NCFIREJames) March 11, 2025

YOU GO, GURL!

Feel free to stay gone.

The Irish Taoiseach was here in the States to meet the president in person, make nice, and, as so many of his fellow heads of state have been doing, fend off the tariff monster looming over whatever they export to America. The Irish press had a good time critiquing both Martin's performance and choice of toggery yesterday, with the Ukrainian Sweater Boy's recent ignominious and unfortunate casual attire selection in mind.

Donald Trump is a stickler for appropriate attire, according to American vice-president JD Vance. And given the tense build-up to Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s Washington engagements, many feared it might have been fitting for the Fianna Fáil leader to turn up in a crash helmet and flak jacket.

Transatlantic relationships may be going through something of a reset with Trump 2.0, but Irish-American roots run deep. For the most part, these warm bonds built over generations by emigrants were reflected yesterday.

That said, when entering the den of the biggest political beast on the planet – who just happens to have a bone to pick with you – you had better be on your guard.

So there was no surprise that while Mr Trump exuded the predatory charm that only the truly powerful can pull off, there was a steely message under the velvet tones.

After a somewhat faltering start, the Taoiseach handled himself with skill and a little pugilistic flair. There was the right amount of shimmy and feint, with a few defensive jabs without exposing his chin to a knockout blow.

Oooh, that's some writing (I lurves it.). They sound as if they're pretty pleased that Taoiseach survived intact and feel that he represented them well.

Trump's specific beef with Ireland is over its dominance in the pharmaceutical industry. He gave Martin what-for while blasting the short-sightedness of American leaders who'd let the industry offshore to such an extent.

The craic wasn’t all good at the White House Wednesday, as President Trump hosted Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office — and used the pre-St. Patrick’s Day meeting to attack the European Union over trade and defend his market-rattling tariff policies.

At one point, in front of the world’s media, Trump said America had “stupid leaders” who let the “entire US pharmaceutical industry” migrate to Ireland — before vowing that his administration would use reciprocal tariffs to “take back the wealth” from other countries.

“The United States of America is going to take back a lot of what was stolen from it by other countries and by, frankly, incompetent US leadership,” Trump, 78, told Martin, 64.

Why did many of our pharmaceutical companies head to Ireland? Welp - it is pretty friendly territory for them to set down roots. Corporations are about the bottom line, period.

...Many of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies have significant operations in Ireland, due to Dublin’s friendly corporate tax rate of 12.5% and status as a member of the European Union, with its accompanying trade benefits.

The US-based companies with a major footprint in Ireland include Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, Merck and Pfizer.

But Trump, being Trump, also handsomely acknowledged that Ireland had played the game well, which is no doubt what the Irish paper meant by his 'predatory charm.'

...During an appearance with Martin in front of reporters, Trump repeated his claim that the European Union was created to take advantage of the US. 

Asked if Ireland was also taking advantage, Trump replied, “of course they are".

"I have great respect for Ireland and what they did and they should have done just what they did, but the United States shouldn’t have let it happen," he complained.  

Trump specifically referred to the concentration of US pharmaceutical companies in Ireland, a longstanding situation grounded in the country's notoriously lenient corporation tax laws.

Who could resist such blandishments right before the shiv comes out?

Speaking of exports and imports, though, I have to say that I think it's a much better idea if we don't, you know, draw attention to what shipped itself from here to Ireland, if you get my drift. Not so much Mumford and Sons as 'mum's the word.'

Relations between the two countries are dicey enough because of trade sanctions and the friction with Europe.

The charming, perpetually pleasant piece of work known as Rosie O'Donnell swears she's not coming back to the States until *checks notes* it's 'safe.'

WEX Rewind: Rosie O'Donnell is living in Ireland and won't return to U.S. until it's 'safe'

READ: https://t.co/5ys82OUR2S pic.twitter.com/UcLbyqm6Dy

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 12, 2025

SOLD! 

I think we'd be prudent to let sleeping dogs lie. 

No way do we want any more attention drawn to this attention whore where it becomes an issue, and Ireland decides, as Failla quipped, that Rosie should become the 'Erin Go BACK' poster child.

HILARIOUS that Rosie O'Donnell moved to Ireland but the LAST thing those people needed was another potato shortage: pic.twitter.com/XN5LvNBPPp

— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) March 13, 2025

NOPE NOPE NOPE

She's there - let her stay. Let her be happy (I kid, I KID - I know that's impossible) and safe.

Serious international negotiating and concessions would almost assuredly come into play to prevent the calamity of a return.

Trump is currently meeting with the Irish Prime Minister. Why do I see the conversation going like this.

Trump - We are going to tariff Irish Whiskey.

Irish PM - If you do we will deport Rosie O’Donnell.

Trump - Ireland is going to be exempt from tariffs. pic.twitter.com/dAd0TtBiYd

— Burnin_T_Ranch (@BurninTRanch) March 12, 2025

I think that's a smile in that picture.

We'll tell any Irishman who asks that it is.

Rosie O'Donnell before moving to Ireland.
Rosie O'Donnell after moving to Ireland. pic.twitter.com/VNjCU1f09J

— ✪ Evil Te𝕏an ✪ (@vileTexan) March 12, 2025

Anyway, we're all agreed then, right? Even our president is on board.

May the road rise up to meet her in her new home.

And may the Atlantic always stay wild, wide, and deep.