After the Burke family – some of the siblings and parents Martina and Seán – were spotted boarding a plane headed for Washington yesterday, speculation has been rife about the possible purpose of their trip; who might have invited them; and whether their itinerary might even involve a trip to a certain-shaped office or some other function involving a bowl of shamrock and an Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Its all speculation, of course, because, as Cuan Ó Seireadáin, the political correspondent with Raidió na Gaeltachta who spotted the family on the flight, reported on X, the Burkes remained tight-lipped about the purpose of their visit.
Their omerta only increased the wildness of the conjectures both online and, according to some reports, even at the level of Cabinet. The Burkes, it could be said, are doggedly persistent, but it seems unlikely that they would hop on a plane to stand at the gates of the White House with a sign. Could it be the case, the speculation goes, that the family have been invited to attend some event where an Taoiseach will be the guest of honour?
Multiple sources have told us here in Gript that rumours are rife over in Washington regarding this topic – and whether the office of the Vice President is involved. But no-one has been able to confirm with certainty whether the Burke family will, in fact, be present at any of the official events.
The fact that close friend to the White House, Elon Musk, tweeted about Enoch Burke’s difficulties have only added fuel to the fire.
It’s a busy day for Mr Martin who should be joining Vice President JD Vance at his official residence for breakfast pretty soon – before meeting President Trump at the White House at 2.30 Irish time.
An Taoiseach will have lunch with congressional leaders before travelling back to the White House for an afternoon ceremony, where the traditional bowl of shamrock is presented.
Social media posts are imagining all kinds of scenarios at one of those events.
Well, it mightn’t help the discussion on tariffs, and its fairly unlikely, but it would definitely be unprecedented – and funny.
There have also been scores of memes and comments imagining Enoch Burke replicating his vigil at Wilson’s Hospital School at the White House.
And many others using cut-and-paste to recreate the moment from 9/11 with George Bush to posit how Micheál Martin might have received the news.
There was comparison to trade deals of a sort involving the Burkes and actress Rosie O’Donnell who says she has moved to Ireland because she hates Trump.
Micheál Martin seemed nonchalant enough about the whole thing, though some observers felt he might be masking his concerns.
A Cabinet source told extra.ie that “the Department of the Taoiseach can invite up to 200 guests, and the Trump administration can bring as many as they like to the event.”
‘This administration is so unpredictable,’ said a Cabinet minister last night, ‘we’ve seen that rogue elements made it into the Zelensky Oval Office press conference, so it wouldn’t be a stretch that this crowd could end up at the shamrock ceremony. It’s adding to our nerves, put it that way.’
We’ll know soon enough at any rate: the breakfast meeting seems to be over without incident at this stage. In the meantime, the country is agog about the Burkes once more.
The humour doesn’t stop at the famous Mayo family however: this take from comedian Conor Moore on what else might have been if another man threatened with jail – Gerry Hutch – made it to the meeting is downright hilarious.
And it might have been more interesting if another TD had tried to play his way in, this commentator thought.
Stay tuned!