Politics

Packed schedule keeps Tánaiste on his toes, and on point

Micheál Martin spent last week in New York talking up his predecessors’ achievements and promoting the €1bn Shared Island initiative, playing down suggestions that he sees the project as a legacy of his own

Tánaiste Micheál Martin marches with New York Attorney General Latisha James in the city’s St Patrick’s Day parade, the world’s largest. Picture: Getty

Last Wednesday afternoon, on Jackson Avenue in Queens, there was organised chaos at the New York Irish Centre.

George Heslin, executive director of the centre, carried in tray after tray of food donated for the weekly seniors’ lunch, while Kathleen Mattessich, a board member of the community group, patrolled the room to urge the 60 people sitting at the tables to bunch up so everyone could pull up a chair.

Meanwhile, at the top of ...