Irish Americans for Biden Harris

PRESIDENT OBAMA :  Well, welcome to the White House.  This does not sound like a shy crowd.  (Laughter.) As you may have noticed, today is not, in fact, St. Patrick's Day.  (Laughter.)  We just wanted to prove that America considers Ireland a dear and steadfast friend every day of the year.  (Applause.)  Some of you may have noticed we even brought the cherry blossoms out early for our Irish and Northern Irish visitors.  And we will be sure to plant these beautiful shamrocks right away. I want to welcome back my good friend, Taoiseach Kenny, his extraordinary wife, Fionnuala.  This has been our third working visit in just over a year, and each one has been better than the last.  I've had the pleasure to welcome back First Minister Peter Robinson, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Northern Ireland, as well. And, everyone, please welcome my new friends from Moneygall, my long-lost cousin, Henry....

(March 20, 2012) THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Please.  Well, thank you, John.  Thank you, everybody.  I know we are all glad to welcome Taoiseach Kenny and his lovely wife back to Washington.  Technically, you may be aware, it is not St. Patrick’s Day.  (Laughter.)  Of course, technically, most Americans who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day are not Irish.  So it’s a wash.  (Laughter.) I want to thank our top Irishman in the White house, Joe Biden, who is here, and Speaker Boehner, for being such a gracious host.  I want to welcome Ambassador Collins and Mrs. Collins; distinguished members of the House and the Senate; leaders from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Britain.  Thank you all for coming. I always think about how every Taoiseach must leave this luncheon marveling at how cheerful and bipartisan Washington is....

From the White House Office of the Press Secretary 11:09 A.M. EDT PRESIDENT OBAMA :  Well, it is my great pleasure to welcome once again Taoiseach, Mr. Kenny, who has done, I think, extraordinary work during a very difficult time.  Over the last several years, we've been able to strike up a friendship.  And you'll notice that even though technically it is not St. Patrick's Day, we like to prolong the party around here.  Technically, most of the Americans who celebrate St. Patrick's Day aren’t Irish anyway -- (laughter) -- so we shouldn’t go on technicalities. I want to thank the Taoiseach, his lovely wife, and all of the people of Ireland for the extraordinary hospitality they showed Michelle and I when we had the chance to travel there recently.  It was a magical day.  It was too short, so I provided assurances that we will be returning.  But the warmth and the goodwill that was expressed towards us I think was really representative o...

Here is the press statement from White House Press Office on President Barack Obama's St. Patrick's Day activities on Tuesday, March 20, 2012: "President Obama will welcome Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny of Ireland to the White House on Tuesday, March 20. The United States and Ireland share strong bilateral relations, deep cultural ties, and a commitment to positive change in the world. "The President looks forward to commemorating his fourth St. Patrick's Day in the White House with the Taoiseach and Mrs. Kenny, and to reciprocating the warm hospitality the Irish people extended to the President and Mrs. Obama during their visit to the Emerald Isle in May 2011. "On Tuesday, the President and the Vice President will meet with the Taoiseach and will attend a St. Patrick's Day lunch at the U.S. Capitol.  In the morning, the Vice President will host the Prime Minister at a St. Patrick's Day breakfast at the Naval Observatory.  In ...

    Statement by the President on International Women’s Day "On International Women’s Day, the United States celebrates the many achievements and milestones in the ongoing struggle for gender equality around the world, and reaffirms our commitment to accelerating progress.  We are committed to a future in which our daughters and sons have equal opportunities to thrive, because when women succeed, communities and countries succeed. With this promise in mind, we are launching new initiatives on women’s political participation and economic empowerment, combating violence against women, promoting women’s roles and perspectives in conflict prevention and peace-building, and supporting the work of UN Women and other key partners. "Experience shows that true democracy cannot be built without the full and equal participation of half our population. Women’s economic empowerment is essential for economic recovery and growth worldwide. Successful transi...

Supporters of President Barack Obama and his reelection campaign are getting together for an O'Bama St. Patrick's Day Dance Party at The North Star at 222 Friend Street in Boston's West End on Thursday, March 15, 2012. The party is being organized by Gen 44 , the official under-40 fundraising program of Obama for America reelection campaign. Read about President Obama's visit to Ireland in May 2011.  Get involved in Obama for America , or follow Obama_IrishUSA on Twitter.

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Enda Kenny, 2011    For centuries, America and Ireland have built a proud and enduring partnership cemented by mutual values and a common history. Generations of Irish have crossed the Atlantic in pursuit of prosperity, and today nearly 40 million of their proud descendants continue to make their indelible mark on the United States of America. Their stories, as varied as our Nation's people, humble us and inspire our children to reach for the opportunities dreamed about by our forebears. Over hundreds of years, Irish men, women, and children left the homes of their ancestors, watching the coasts of Donegal and the cliffs of Dingle fade behind them. Boarding overcrowded ships and navigating dangerous seas, these resilient travelers looked to the horizon with hope in their hearts. Many left any valuables, land, or stability they had behind, but they came instead with the true treasures of their homeland -- song an...