The Irish Embassy in Washington ensured Enda Kenny was the first EU leader to speak to US president-elect Donald Trump by arranging it through associates of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Mr Giuliani was one of Mr Trump’s top campaigners leading up to the Manhattan businessman’s shock presidential election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton on Tuesday and is tipped for a US cabinet post.

A source told today’s Irish Times that the Taoiseach spoke with Trump on Wednesday (early on Thursday Irish time) in a call that was set up through one of the Irish Embassy’s long-standing Republican contacts in Washington who has strong connections with Mr Giuliani.

Mr Kenny received the first invite to the White House from Mr Trump after the president-elect asked him to travel to the White House for St Patrick’s Day, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1952.

He congratulated Mr Trump on his victory and both men made a commitment to work together to the mutual benefit of Ireland and the United States.

Mr Kenny was one of only nine world leaders to speak to Mr Trump within 24 hours of his election and the only leader of an EU member state to speak with the Republican the day after his victory.