Ireland Taoiseach Enda Kenny probably wishes he could celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day at home.

Instead, the Irish prime minister had to deal with the traditional meeting with the American president, who hasn’t thought it necessary to name a U.S. ambassador in Dublin for the last 15 months, and the Neanderthal Saint Patrick’s Day Parade organizers who stubbornly maintain their very public discrimination policies against gay Americans.

Some Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!!!

Granted, the quickly disappearing Obama Administration has a lot on its plate right now. The president today, again warned of “consequences” for Russia’s invasion of Crimea, unveiling economic and political sanctions against seven faceless (in the U.S.) political henchman of Vladimir Putin.

The former KGB agent Russian strongman is hardly quaking in his jackboots. At the very least, Barry could have slapped sanctions against a high-profile tycoon such as Gazprom chief Alexey Miller, whose company uses Ketchum for image work.

Obama hasn’t deigned Ireland worthy enough for an Ambassador for the last 15 months when Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers stepped down. That tops the 13-month Ambassador gap record under Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Had Barry named an Ambassador, bowl of shamrocks-bearing Kenny wouldn’t have had to bring up the national snub during his March 14 D.C. visit.

And then there are the bigots in New York and Boston who ban gay groups from marching in their sanctimonious parade. A clear majority of Americans now accept the gay community, further exposing how out-of-touch the Irish-American parade organizers really are.

Kenny, who had a breakfast session this morning with New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio, who boycotted the parade festivities, really doesn’t need the political grief.

The mostly Catholic parade people haven’t gotten the non-judgemental against gays message from Pope Francis, who is bringing the Church into the modern age.

The hate of the small number of hotshots who call the parade's shots is hurting the reputation of Irish-Americans and Ireland. Potential visitors to The Emerald Isle may have second thoughts of visiting due to the inability of some to acknowledge the world as it is.

On the good news front: Slainte Mhaith, Guinness for withdrawing corporate support for the Saint Patrick’s Day parade. Its statement: “Guinness has a strong history of supporting diversity and being an advocate for equality for all. We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year’s parade. As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation.”

When Ireland’s very high-profile institution speaks out against Irish-American bigotry, we all should listen.