Sen. Claiborne Pell, an Irishman -- at least once a year

By John Mulligan
Journal Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- The colors of the feast day livened the floor of the House of Representatives Wednesday morning as members arrived to cast votes, wearing every variety of green tie, green scarf and green sash.

Between votes, Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy swapped greetings of his namesake's day and compared neckwear with a fellow-Hibernian. ``Mine's got the Pell Bridge,'' Kennedy said, displaying a pale green cravat marked with images of the Rhode Island span named for the late Sen. Claiborne Pell.

``Pell?'' said the other man. ``Was he one of us?''

``On this day,'' replied Kennedy, ``everybody is one of us.''