White House Goes Green for St. Patrick's Day

— -- The White House is in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit today, dying the water in the fountain on the North Lawn an emerald green to mark the festive occasion.

The fountain water has been dyed green each year since 2009. Operations staff at the Executive Residence mix one gallon of liquid blue dye with one gallon of yellow dye to produce the vibrant green shade. The dye is a widely used, commercially available type used in plumbing systems, so it’s safe and does not damage the fountain, a White House official said.

President Obama, who often jokes of his Irish ancestry, welcomed Irish Prime Minister Edna Kenny to the White House on Tuesday. Though Kenny usually visits Washington on St. Patrick’s Day, this year he came two days early due to a conflict on his schedule. That day, the fountain on the South Lawn was dyed as part of the activities celebrating the nation's relationship with Ireland.