For the second year in a row, the White House temporarily dyed water in the South and North Lawn fountains in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

The idea came from First Lady Michelle Obama, who was inspired by her hometown tradition of dying the Chicago River bright green on the Irish holiday.

President Obama also hosted Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen and other leaders for an annual White House St. Patrick's Day event.

Obama thanked Cowen for his country's efforts to help with the global economic recovery.

He noted that 36 million Americans claim Irish ancestry and that it's a testament "to how close our two countries are [and] that America has been shaped culturally, politically, economically by the incredible contributions of Irish Americans."