Ms McPhie said research by one major pub chain had found St George's Day was now its busiest single-day celebration, behind St Patrick's Day and Mother's Day.
BBC: NEWS | UK | England | St George's Day grows in strength
Mr Obama also met the Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny at a St Patrick's Day lunch.
On Wednesday, the Republic's tourism minister, Leo Varadkar, said it was "regrettable" that those involved in the protest would not consider relocating for a few days during the St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The relatives had challenged the commission's ruling not to impose any restrictions on a nationalist parade through the town on St Patrick's Day, 17 March.
The west Belfast based Feile an Phobail (People's Festival) has been the driving force behind the organisation of Belfast's St Patrick's Day parade since 1997.
BBC: News | Northern Ireland | Rivals plan separate St Patrick's Day parades
It is exactly 100 years since Queen Victoria decreed that Irish Regiments wear a sprig of shamrock in the head dress on St Patrick's day on 17 March.
Members of a Stormont committee have clashed over how many MLAs go to Washington for St Patrick's Day at taxpayers' expense.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have attended a St Patrick's Day parade at a military barracks.
The meeting was part of St Patrick's Day celebrations at the White House.
Mr Justice Coghlin heard submissions at the High Court on behalf of families opposed to the route of the St Patrick's Day parade before dismissing the application.
Mr Begley said nationalist councillors had already made a gesture to unionists by agreeing to move the date of the parade to Monday, because St Patrick's Day had fallen on a Sunday.
The events took place on Tuesday because St Patrick's Day fell on a Sunday this year.
Party president Gerry Adams led the Sinn Fein delegation at their first meeting with the secretary of state, since the parties returned last week from St Patrick's Day celebrations at the White House in Washington.
St Patrick's Day is on 17 March, which invariably falls in Festival week.
Belfast looks likely to host two St Patrick's Day parades as rival groups bid for funding from the city council.
BBC: News | Northern Ireland | Rivals plan separate St Patrick's Day parades
The former Republic of Ireland international had been at an event celebrating St Patrick's Day on Sunday, 20 March 2011 when he was taken ill.
Sinn Fein councillor Sean Begley - who chaired Omagh District Council's organising committee for the St Patrick's Day celebrations - criticised his unionist colleagues for a "lack of leadership".
The campaign was started when the pub industry noticed many English people would always go out drinking to celebrate St Patrick's Day, yet did not even know when St George's Day was.
BBC: NEWS | UK | England | St George's Day grows in strength
The big screen at city hall will show live rugby and GAA action over the St Patrick's Day weekend, as well as films including The Quiet Man and Into the West.
Although Ireland is struggling economically, the whole of Dublin will be buzzing because it was St Patrick's Day on Thursday and the Cheltenham Festival has been a huge success for the Irish.
Patrick's Day parade in the Rockaways in Queens on Saturday and a so-called inclusive St.
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