Michelle O'Neill says she stands over her and Sinn Féin's decision to not attend St. Patrick's Day at the White House this year.

Leaders of Sinn Fein will not travel to the White House to participate in St. Patrick's Day festivities in Washington, D.C. next month, the left-wing political party in Ireland and Northern Ireland said Friday.

In 1995, President Bill Clinton invited Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams to the event, which was condemned by the British government. Sinn Féin said this is the first year since the peace agreement that its leaders won’t be traveling to Washington for St. Patrick's Day events.

Sinn Fein has defended its decision to boycott Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day amid criticism from political opponents across the island of Ireland. The party’s leadership, which normally travels to the US to mark the occasion every year,