White House silent on Irish American Heritage Month as Irish leader prepares for St Patrick’s Day visit

As of March 13, the White House had not posted a presidential proclamation designating March as Irish American Heritage Month, a tradition usually announced at the end of February or on the first day of March. The White House communications calendar has nevertheless been active in March with multiple statements and observances published in recent days.

The absence stands out because March is already one-third over, and St. Patrick’s Day is but four days away on March 17, when the annual shamrock presentation and other Irish American events traditionally take place. The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin is scheduled to visit Washington and meet with Donald Trump at the White House as part of the St. Patrick’s Day engagements.

The Ancient Order of the Hibernians, National Anti-Defamation Chairman, Neil Cosgrove, said, "The White House communications calendar is clearly active, despite international events. Since March 1, there have already been a number of official messages and recognitions issued, including the 65th Anniversary of the Peace Corps, Read Across America Day, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Women’s History Month, among others. 

He added, "Irish American Heritage Month, a long-standing national observance honoring the heritage of 30 million Americans, has not been mentioned, even as the month is now well underway and St. Patrick’s Day is approaching."

Irish American Heritage Month was established by Congress in 1991 to honor the history, culture, and contributions of Americans of Irish descent and to celebrate the ties between the United States and Ireland. Presidents have traditionally issued annual proclamations to mark the month and to encourage ceremonies, cultural programming, and educational activities nationwide.

The size of the Irish American community helps explain why the proclamation matters to so many. According to the latest Census Bureau estimates, roughly 32.4 million Americans, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population, claim Irish ancestry, a figure that underpins parades, concerts, religious services, dance and music events, family gatherings, and civic programs across the country each March.

Local governments and cultural bodies often step in when there is a gap at the federal level; states, cities, historical societies, and Irish organizations frequently issue their own proclamations and schedule celebrations from New York to Boston to Chicago and beyond. That pattern of community-level recognition has become more visible in years when a White House proclamation arrives late or not at all. Observers and community leaders say an official presidential message — even a brief one — signals national recognition and gives added momentum to events and nonprofit fundraising efforts tied to the month.

Below is a table illustrating the dates, since 1991, when the Irish American Heritage Month has been announced: