Media Mayor, Daughter Attend White House Reception

Media Borough Mayor Bob McMahon and his daughter Victoria met President and Mrs. Obama and the Irish Prime Minister at a White House reception.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and his wife were the special guests at .

McMahon tells of the day's events in his own words.

On March 20, my daughter Vicki and I attended a reception at the White House for the Prime Minister of Ireland Enda Kenny. The following is a summary of the day.

We arrived around noon, parked at a local hotel, and walked down to the Southeast White House entrance so we would know where we were going and when to be there.

Then we took a cab down to the Tidal Basin and saw the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

We arrived at the White House entrance at 5:20 p.m. where the expected 508 guests were mingling before going through security.

Of the more than 500 people, there were only three at the reception I had previously met—the President (then Senator in 2007), the Vice President and Nancy Pelosi. Only the Vice President acknowledged our previous meeting.

After the program the President and First Lady were able to greet about 25 of the guests which included Vicki and myself. The President shook our hands and said hello. The First Lady exchanged complements with Vicki which led to a discussion between them about the Ellen Show and push-ups.

The First Lady then commented to me that she would like to visit Media. One of our pictures shows Vicki and her new friend making faces at the camera.

The then later about Media's Veterans program.

Vicki and I had several conversations with Prime Minister Kenny and his wife on our Irish background, his mission in the U.S. and the important role the Irish have played in growing our country and in service to our country.

Vicki left around 8:15 p.m. to briefly meet a friend before we left for home. But the Prime Minister, myself and a few others stayed until around 8:40 p.m. before we all got the hint to leave. It was a new experience for me to help close a party.