1,500 gather at Fourth of July celebrations despite boycott

WHILE a number of TDs decided to boycott the US Embassy’s Fourth of July celebrations, the turnout remained high. Around 1,500 of current US Chargé d’Affaires Reece Smyth’s “closest friends” gathered at the US ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park for the ‘United We Rock’ event. Several members of the Oireachtas boycotted the event in protest at President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked TDs and senators to boycott it. Last night Frances Fitzgerald, Michael Healy-Rae and Michael Noonan attended the event. Mr Healy-Rae, a US citizen, said it was important to strengthen relations between the two nations.