SEAN Spicer has emerged as a shock front-runner for the vacant US Ambassador job in Ireland.

The gaffe-prone White House press secretary is understood to be in line for the job following a tumultuous spell as Donald Trump’s spokesman.

2 Sean Spicer is the favourite for the job Credit: Getty Images

The Massachusetts man is of Cork heritage and has been vocal about his pride in his roots – even once appearing on CNN wearing shamrock-covered pants on St Patrick’s Day.

The Navy Reserve is favourite following the decision by Ambassador-designate Brian Burns to withdraw his name from consideration on the basis of ill health.

As press secretary, Spicer has been slated for making numerous false or controversial statements, as well as for regularly falling out with the press.

He got off to a bad start in his press role when Trump aide Kellyanne Conway declared that he had been using “alternative facts” when estimating the inauguration’s attendance figures.

2 He is currently the White House press secretary Credit: Getty Images

As he wobbled over Metro ridership numbers for Trump’s day versus Barack Obama’s, Spicer defended his previous statements by saying "sometimes we can disagree with the facts".

Another shock contender to emerge is Derry actress Roma Downey, who is married to Trump’s pal Mark Burnett.

Burnett was a producer and advisor on the Apprentice, while Downey is best known for her long-standing role in Touched by an Angel and also played Jackie Kennedy Onasssis in A Woman Named Jackie.

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Other potential appointments are believed to be Christopher Ruddy, the founder of Newsmax and a former pal of the US President, and also Congressman Peter King, a 73-year-old veteran of the House and pal of Trump.

Susan Collins, a Senator from Maine could take advantage of her difficulties with Trump, as a post in Ireland would free the governor up to replace her with someone more in tune with the President.

On Tuesday, Mr Burns' spokesperson said he had suffered "a bad fall a few weeks ago", and is currently preparing to have "a second back surgery in the lumbar area of his spine".

He hopes to make a full recovery by the end of the summer.

Mr Burns said he wished to thank President Trump for the "great honour of being considered to be US Ambassador to his beloved Ireland".

There is currently no US Ambassador to Ireland.

The previous office holder Kevin O'Malley's term came to an end in January when president Barack Obama's term of office also ended.