State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry’s annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast drew some 750 friends of Ireland to the Boston Convention Center on March 19. Among the guests were US Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, and Congressman Stephen Lynch.

A special guest was Ireland’s Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone, who was visiting the city to mark the St Patrick’s holiday on behalf of her country.

With roots extending back to the 1940s, this annual political gathering is legendary in Boston’s history, and serves to focus the celebration of Boston’s Irish heritage by the region’s political and cultural constituencies.

As was to be expected, given the re-made political landscape, President Trump’s name was heard throughout the proceedings, beginning with Sen. Dorcena Forry’s presentation of a tweet from the White House – “Good Luck on Your STUPID Breakfast – SAD!” The event also featured plenty of good-natured joshing of GOP Governor Baker by the largely Democratic crowd of politicians spread across the dais and some light byplay between Mayor Walsh and his challenger in this year’s election, City Councillor Tito Jackson.