Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar criticised Conor McGregor after the UFC fighter met US president Donald Trump at the White House on St Patrick's Day

Conor McGregor’s visit to the White House have exposed Micheal Martin’s ‘cowardly’ approach to Donald Trump, an opposition TD has said.

Micheál Martin does not represent the people of Ireland, Conor McGregor has claimed, after being criticised by the Taoiseach.

Crowds took to the streets in cities and towns including Dublin, Belfast and Athy in Co Kildare as pageants unfolded with Irish dancers and leprechaun costumes in evidence.

Tánaiste Simon Harris also told journalists in New York that Mr McGregor does not speak for Ireland.

Rap collective Kabin Krew will lead the St Patrick's Day festivities in Cork this afternoon.

Historians agree that St Patrick was born in 373 AD in one of two possible locations - Dumbarton in Scotland or on the west coast of Roman Britain (Wales).

While some decent spells of sunshine are likely for a time, mainly in parts of the west, it will generally become cloudier through the morning, with just the occasional sunny spell afterwards.

Monday's St Patrick's Day parade through Dublin city centre is expected to draw large crowds into the capital.

Highest temperatures on Friday will range from six to nine degrees with moderate northeast winds easing later. It will be cold tonight with clear spells.

President Donald Trump offered uncomfortable commentary on Ireland during an Oval Office exchange.

‘You have a lot of great Irish fighters actually,’ Donald Trump said to Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

The Princess of Wales will visit the regiment at Wellington Barracks in London next Monday.

Micheál Martin and JD Vance had a warm exchange of words ahead of a highly anticipated meeting with Donald Trump at the White House.

The presentation of shamrock to the White House has been a symbol of the friendship between Ireland and the United States since 1953.

The Northern Ireland Office said investment, trade and economic growth is at the top of Hilary Benn’s agenda.

Mr Trump will be presented with a bowl of shamrock as the centrepiece of the Irish Government’s major overseas diplomatic push.

Members of the Burke family boarded a flight to the US capital on Tuesday

Where in the world will the Government be this week? Test your knowledge in this quiz...

The Taoiseach was speaking ahead of his much-anticipated meeting with the US president in the White House on Wednesday.

Donald Trump will host the Taoiseach in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday.

The First Minister and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly started their engagements with a visit to the Research Triangle Park.

Micheál Martin was speaking as he travelled to the US for a visit which will include a bilateral meeting with the president Donald Trump.

Here, we have a look at some of the issues Mr Martin is facing ahead of the visit

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is facing a difficult diplomatic task ahead of his meeting with US president Donald Trump

The parade will begin at 1.30pm

The Thales plant in Belfast has received an order to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine.

Michelle O’Neill previously said she would not attend an event at the White House around St Patrick’s Day.

The DUP leader described the heated Oval Office encounter between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky as ‘appalling’ and ‘destructive’

Micheál Martin will meet with the US president at the White House on March 12 to mark St Patrick’s Day.

US president Donald Trump has written to Micheál Martin, inviting him for a meeting in the Oval Office on March 12th.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he would 'absolutely' welcome the US President to Ireland.

Sinn Féin said it was taking a ‘principled stance’ against US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on Gaza

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was important to retain strong ties with the US.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she and First Minister Michelle O’Neill have not yet received invitations for St Patrick’s Day events.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said he couldn’t speculate on what US products the EU could buy more of to help avert a trade war.

Micheal Martin said US-Irish relations were ‘extremely significant’.

This year 38 State representatives will visit more than 90 cities in 40 countries.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will head to Texas before an expected visited visit to the White House for St Patrick’s Day.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said the party was taking the stance in protest at the US administration position on Gaza.

The event will have a wide range of events celebrating Waterford's rich heritage

Terence Crosbie (37) re-appeared in court in Boston on Wednesday

A 28-year-old woman told Boston police she had been assaulted at the Omni Parker House hotel in the city on Friday morning