Although he was a couple days late, President Obama didn’t mind throwing a St. Patrick’s Day party with his favorite Irish Americans this evening.

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews attended the party which was reportedly large enough for several hundred people including Kathleen Sebelius, Sens. Patrick Leahy, Bob Casey and Bill Nelson, Reps. Steny Hoyer, Joe Kennedy and Gerry Connolly, and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains performed for the ceremony and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny attended as well.

Obama explained that he had several new Irish Americans joining his cabinet adding that the “next four years are shaping up to be very green ones here in the White House.”

“Joe Biden has very kindly agreed to stay on as Irishman-in-Chief,” the president joked, adding that the Vice President missed the party since he was traveling back from Rome.

“For those of you who know Joe, literally the only thing that could keep him away from St. Patrick’s Day at the White House is the installation of a new Pope,” he added.

Obama left the party early, boarding Air Force One for his trip to Israel.