Congressional Press
Pool Report #4
March 17, 2008
Pool was ushered into Capitol's Rayburn Room to witness the final moments of lunch, after speeches had already been made. As we entered, Speaker Pelosi, dressed in a hospital green pantsuit for St. Patrick's Day, introduced an Irish-American band that she said would offer up "Celtic" music, pronounced by her as in "Boston Celtics." The band, Scythian, consisted of two fiddles, a guitar and drums. The four men launched into a highly spirited – bordering even on raucous – rendition of something that sounded like tradition-tinged Irish rock. All were clapping along, including the president, Pelosi, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Among the presidential aides on hand were Ed Gillespie and Tony Fratto. Bush demanded an encore and got one, but the pool was shuffled out. As he descended the steps of the House a few minutes later to depart, he was serenaded by a line of drummers and bagpipe players. I was informed by an Irish Embassy official that, yes, bagpipes are used in Ireland too, not just Scotland. I assume that meant the kilts they were wearing too.