Ambassador Claire D. Cronin (Ret.), former United States Ambassador to Ireland and the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden.
More than 480 guests gathered at the InterContinental Boston for the Irish American Partnership’s 31st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast Celebration and were treated to a memorable moment when Joseph R. Biden, Jr., the 46th President of the United States, entered the ballroom to enthusiastic applause and delivered St. Patrick’s Day remarks to the assembled crowd.
President Biden’s appearance delighted the audience of civic, business, and community leaders and underscored the special significance of this year’s event, which marks the 40th anniversary of the Irish American Partnership.
Long known for his great pride in his Irish roots, President Biden chose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day morning with the Irish American Partnership community in Boston — a fitting moment for an organization that for four decades has strengthened the ties between Ireland and the United States through a $63 million philanthropic investment in education and opportunity for young people across Ireland.
Introduced by Ambassador Claire D. Cronin (Ret.), former United States Ambassador to Ireland, President Biden reflected on the shared heritage and enduring friendship between the two nations:
“Coming up Irish American gave me pride that spoke to both sides of the Atlantic. Heart and soul, the truth of the old and the new. I learned the values passed down from generation to generation around countless Irish-American dinner tables, just like my own. Those Irish values became American values.
"On this St. Patrick's Day, we honor where we came from. Let us not forget and romanticize the visions of the past. Instead, let us remember what's possible, and recommit ourselves to the unified work that lies ahead," continued President Biden.
President Joe Biden.
“We were thrilled and deeply honored that President Biden chose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish American Partnership community,” said Mary Sugrue, President & CEO of the Irish American Partnership.
“As we celebrate our 40th year, his presence was a powerful reminder of the pride so many Irish Americans feel in their heritage and of the extraordinary bonds that continue to connect Ireland and America.”
Held each year in Boston, the breakfast has become one of New England’s most beloved St. Patrick’s Day traditions, bringing together leaders from government, business, philanthropy, and the wider Irish American community.
This year’s celebration featured an outstanding lineup of speakers, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, keynote speaker Helen McEntee, TD, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade and Minister for Defense, and Dr. Norah Patten, the Irish aeronautical engineer and astronaut candidate expected to become the first Irish person to travel to space later this year.
“This breakfast is the Massachusetts-Ireland connection in action. No two places on this earth are separated by 3,000 miles but feel like they're right next door,” said Governor Maura Healey.
President Joe Biden.
“The work of the Irish American Partnership is about care, compassion, connection, and community. That is what leads to opportunity and prosperity. That should be the model for the path ahead,” the Governor continued.
Guests also enjoyed a musical performance by Irish tenor Andrew Gavin and a special video greeting from Mary Robinson, the seventh President of Ireland, who lauded the organization: "All I can say is, keep up the good work over the next 40 years!"
“As we celebrate forty years of impact,” Sugrue added, “today’s gathering in Boston reflects the remarkable community that has sustained this mission — people who believe deeply in education, opportunity, and the enduring friendship between Ireland and America.”
Irish American Partnership
Dedicated to connecting Irish America and friends of Ireland to their heritage through targeted giving, the Partnership invests in education, community development, and peace initiatives across the island of Ireland. Since 1986, supporters have raised more than $63 million for young people and communities, North and South, empowering and educating the next generation of global leaders.
The Partnership provides targeted grants to schools, offers university access scholarships, funds education centers for homeless youth, supports peace and reconciliation initiatives in Northern Ireland, and champions Gaelic games, Irish arts and culture, and more. A dynamic, grassroots organization, the Partnership is endorsed by leaders across education, community, and government sectors.