President Barack Obama has officially decreed March 2012 Irish American Heritage Month. The month every year that celebrates the 44 million Americans who claim Irish ancestry and celebrate that fact with St. Patrick’s Day Parades, family gatherings, Masses, dances and other community events.
The month long celebration of Irish American heritage aims to recognize the heritage, history and culture of the Irish in America. The American Foundation for Irish Heritage explains that this month was “established to honor the glorious contributions the Irish in America have made to the growth and development of the United States of America.
On 1st March President Obama issued this decree:
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 and literature, humor and tradition, faith and family. And when they landed on our shores, they shared their gifts generously, adding immeasurable value to towns, cities, and communities throughout our Nation.
Today, we draw on the indomitable spirit of those Irish Americans whose strength helped build countless miles of canals and railroads; whose brogues echoed in mills, police stations, and fire halls across our country; and whose blood spilled to defend a Nation and a way of life they helped define. Defying famine, poverty, and discrimination, these sons and daughters of Erin demonstrated extraordinary strength and unshakable faith as they gave their all to help build an America worthy of the journey they and so many others have taken. During Irish-American Heritage Month, we recall their legacy of hard work and perseverance, and we carry forward that singular dedication to forging a more prosperous future for all Americans.
Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2012 as Irish-American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by celebrating the contributions of Irish Americans to our Nation.
10 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.mahalo84 | Mar 16, 2012, 07:58 PM EDT
Maybe he's confused....my 94-year-old father (God rest his soul) thought his name was O'Bama and called him a black Irishman. Yikes.
IrishDragoon | Mar 03, 2012, 10:55 PM EST
I'll say one thing. They'd never allow a white American president to set aside a month for white history of ANY stripe, be it Irish or otherwise.
irishcoffeekid | Mar 02, 2012, 12:05 PM EST
He's doing what all American Presidents do - he's realizing the power of the Irish in the US - whether born there, bred there or ancestors come from there - Irish and Irish Americans are rich voters and he's playing to the crowd. To be fair to him, he's not doing anything others including Bush, Reagan, Clinton, JFK etc all did before him and he's no worse than the Irish politicians plugging the locals for a vote! He's no worse than the rest so the Republicans on here can mouth all they like - yer own were just as bad as plugging the Irish - Bush included so stop trying to make out its a Democrat thing!!!
joycean | Mar 02, 2012, 10:42 AM EST
This is an annual proclamation since passed by Congress in 1996. Obama is not personnally responsible although the President makes it each year.
kcceltic | Mar 02, 2012, 06:12 AM EST
We that are Irish don't need a declaration to celebrate our heritage. March this year includes the annual parade at Leavenworth and learning the language of our land. We are proud and confident in who we are. Slan go foill.
jerryoneill | Mar 02, 2012, 12:33 AM EST
After the US has Black history month and Hispanic history month and whoever else needs a month, there then should be six months set aside for Irish history and the many the contributions the Irish have made to America. There is a fine thread of green running through the Red, White and Blue.
weeknocky | Mar 01, 2012, 08:23 PM EST
Just another politician who never had a real job. Very tiresome to see him and all the other pols playing to the crowd.
ciaradexy | Mar 01, 2012, 05:29 PM EST
Meg, what makes Obama any less 'Irish' than the Americans on this site who claim to be irish also?
MegK311 | Mar 01, 2012, 03:31 PM EST
If Obama thinks I will vote for him because he is claiming to be Irish he better thik again. I will vote for anybody but Obama.
peterson | Mar 01, 2012, 02:33 PM EST
No comment !!@#%&*????###@^