ISTANBUL — Hundreds of activists deported from Israel following a bloody raid by Israeli commandos on a pro-Palestinian flotilla returned to a hero’s welcome in Turkey early Thursday. Nine bodies were on the first plane.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please, everybody be seated. To Speaker Pelosi; distinguished members of the House and Senate; Republican Leader Boehner; Majority Leader Steny Hoyer; my outstanding Vice President and his newest chief of staff — (laughter) — to Prime Minister Cowen and the entire Irish delegation, as well as the extraordinary leaders from Ireland and Northern Ireland — it is my privilege to welcome all of you for this wonderful St. Patrick’s Day tradition.

Remarks by President Obama and the Taoiseach of Ireland Brian Cowen

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good morning, everybody. First of all, I just want to congratulate this sound person right here for having the green earmuffs. (Laughter.) Now, I haven’t seen that before. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everybody.

Kilts, green body paint decorate NYC as marchers worldwide parade for St. Patrick

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Obama celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Irish, Northern Irish leaders

Obama, Irish leaders celebrate St. Patrick’s

Final steps of Northern Ireland’s slow journey to disarmament detailed in new report

Report details last acts of NIreland disarmament

Ireland’s defense minister resigns after falsely accusing political rival of running brothel

Irish defense minister quits over brothel comments

Irish defense minister who falsely accused rival of running a brothel wins vote to keep job

Irish defense minister wins ‘no confidence’ vote

IRA splinter Irish National Liberation Army disarms, offers no regret for its decades of death

IRA splinter group disarms; no apology for carnage

IRA splinter group Irish National Liberation Army says it has disarmed days before deadline

Irish National Liberation Army says it’s disarmed

Encyclopaedia Britannica says it’s fixed its mangled history of Irish Civil War

US encyclopedia sorry for old Irish Civil War goof

Red-faced Encyclopaedia Britannica apologizes for mangling history of Irish Civil War

British encyclopedia sorry for Irish history goofs

British, Irish premiers cancel parliament events for final push on new Northern Ireland accord

Northern Ireland talks face criticial day

HILLSBOROUGH, Northern Ireland — The prime ministers of Britain and Ireland canceled their parliament appearances Wednesday to keep pushing politicians in Northern Ireland into a new compromise to save the region’s Catholic-Protestant government.