The Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin will have felt some relief after his visit to the White House last week. While Trump criticised Ireland for poaching American pharmaceutical companies, the general consensus was that Martin had walked away pretty unscathed. In fact, the mood was so optimistic following the encounter that Tanaiste Simon Harris, also in America for the week, offered Trump a state visit to Ireland sometime next year. 

But whatever warmth of feeling the Irish government may have had towards the American President will have plummeted into the freezing depths following Trump’s decision to invite Conor McGregor to the White House to mark St Patrick’s Day.

It is perhaps not surprising that McGregor received an invitation. Through his connections to UFC supremo, Dana White, Trump has become something of a fan. The President even name-dropped the fighter last week during his meeting with Martin. While the Taoiseach may have found that irritating, McGregor’s remarks while in the White House, particularly when he was speaking in the press briefing room, now threaten to become a major diplomatic embarrassment.