Obama to welcome Irish leaders March 17

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The prime minister of Ireland and the two top leaders of Northern Ireland plan to spend St. Patrick's Day in Washington, the White House announced Friday.

President Obama looks forward to spending his second St. Patrick's Day in office with Prime Minister Brian Cowen, the White House said.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness from Northern Ireland will join Obama and Cowen on March 17 for a discussion of the peace process. Robinson is the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party while McGuinness represents the nationalist Sinn Fein party.