That was no echo, that was Obama’s speech

That was no echo the audience heard when Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen spoke at the White House — it was Cowen delivering U.S. President Obama’s speech.

As Cowen delivered his St. Patrick’s Day speech at the White House Tuesday, he suddenly realized he accidentally was reading the teleprompter containing remarks Obama made only minutes earlier, The Times of London reported Wednesday.

A startled Cowen looked back at Obama 20 seconds into his address, saying, That’s your speech!

Extending the electronic comedy of errors, the British newspaper said as Obama returned to the podium, the teleprompter belatedly switched to Cowen’s speech — leaving Obama thanking himself for extending the invitation.