Remarks by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Ireland Funds National Gala

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Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

A chairde,

It is an honour to join you this evening for the Ireland Funds 33rd National Gala.

For over three decades, this gathering has been the beating heart of St. Patrick’s week in Washington DC. This year it is the capstone of an extraordinary week in America’s capital – a week in which the enduring bonds between Ireland and the US have been affirmed and celebrated.

Ireland was again welcomed with warmth and grace to highest offices in this land: to the Oval Office by President Trump; to the Naval Observatory by Vice President Vance and the Second Lady and to the Houses of Congress by Speaker Johnson and the Friends of Ireland.

This is a singular honour.

And it is an honour which reflects upon all of you gathered here.

This extraordinary celebration of Ireland has grown from the seeds planted by your forebears, which you, in turn, have carefully tended.

It flourishes as a result of the immense contribution which your families and so many Irish-Americans have made to your communities, to business, to politics and to the arts in this great nation over centuries.

Looking out into this gathering, I cannot help but reflect upon the circumstances which led many of your ancestors to leave our land when times were leanest.

Many were escaping hunger, poverty and a chronic lack of opportunity.

Across the Atlantic – the ocean James Joyce called a “bitter bowl of tears” – they discovered this land of opportunity.

And, once in America, they marshalled the determination which drove them here in the first place -- often against steep odds -- to make an indelible mark.

In the years which followed, generation to generation, Irish America, you passed this torch onwards, never allowing its flame to dim or flicker.

And tonight, it is lighting up this capital city, just as it has cast its glow across this great land.

So, I want to start with a very sincere thank you for being extraordinary ambassadors for Ireland.

You have done our small State -- and this great nation -- some service.

Thank you. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the Ireland Funds, which serves as a powerful force for good, strengthening communities and fostering opportunity right across the island of Ireland.

I would like to recognise The Honorary Congressional Committee, comprising more than 50 Members of the House and Senate, Republican and Democrat alike.

This is one of the largest in the history of The Ireland Funds and I am delighted to see so many of you here this evening, honouring a great tradition of bipartisanship in support of Ireland.

Today it is as important as ever to seek opportunities to work together towards our shared goal of peace, security and prosperity.

Our dear Friends of Ireland, many of you here this evening knows just how important that bipartisanship was in bringing peace to the island of Ireland.

I’d like to acknowledge the leaders of the Friends of Ireland Caucus, Congressman Mike Kelly and Congressman Richie Neal, who played such an important role in that great effort and who continue to lend their strength and their voice to the ongoing work of reconciliation.

A very warm word of welcome to guests, whose presence here this evening bears testament to the deep ties between our nations.

Tonight, we are gathered to honour three exceptional individuals — Congressman Brendan Boyle, Congressman David Joyce, and Coach Dan Quinn.

As we know, everyone is a little Irish this week – but few on Capitol Hill have a stronger claim than Congressman Brendan Boyle.

As the only member of Congress who has a parent born on our island, Congressman Boyle, you are, quite simply, family!

In 1970, when your father, Frank, left Glencolmcille in County Donegal he was just 19 years old.

Like so many before him, he worked hard, built a good life and raised a family.

Ireland owes your father a debt of gratitude for instilling such a deep understanding and appreciation of the Irish story in you.

Thank you, also, for being such an ardent student!

Your constant and unwavering commitment to building peace and prosperity across the island of Ireland has been invaluable.

You have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us through the good times and the challenging ones. And you have leaned into your stellar reputation to bring others on this journey at moments when Ireland needed friends. Thank you.

We also appreciate that your commitment extends beyond our shores to the wider world.

As the Vice Chair of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Political Committee and Co-Chair of the Congressional EU Caucus you’ve been a steadfast supporter of European ideals and commitment to peace. That is more important than ever today. Thank you.

Congressman David Joyce, you have also proven yourself an unwavering friend to Ireland.

Let me extend a special St Patrick’s Day wish to you, in honour of your second name, Patrick.

With roots in County Galway -- as one might expect with a west of Ireland name like Joyce -- you grew up in an Irish-Catholic family in Cleveland, Ohio.

In Cleveland today you serve your constituents, including some 100,000 Irish Americans, with energy and distinction.

Your own deep-rooted values are evidenced through your extraordinary service to your district, to the US more widely and to Ireland.

For many years, you have been a staunch supporter of economic cooperation and cultural exchange between Ireland and the US.

This important work will benefit generations to come.

Your tireless efforts to ensure that the US-Ireland relationship remains resilient make you an indispensable ally and for that, and so much else, we are deeply grateful.

In addition, your principled leadership on the Republican Governance Group and your work across both sides of the aisle is an example to us all.

Representative Joyce and Representative Boyle, you have both offered long-standing support for the International Fund for Ireland, an organisation which has worked tirelessly to build peace, reconciliation and economic opportunity on our island since 1986.

The US was critical in the establishment of the IFI, and bipartisan support for the Fund has helped to cement Northern Ireland’s lasting peace as a key achievement of US foreign policy.

Tonight, we also gather to celebrate Dan Quinn, head coach of the Washington Commanders.

Dan, your achievements in the NFL have been remarkable, and we congratulate you and your team on an outstanding season.

Tonight, we celebrate the 33rd National Gala but also the Commanders' best playoff run in 33 years.

I speak for many in this room when I say that you kept us all on the edge of our seats!

Your leadership, passion, and commitment to excellence has inspired so many people, and we are proud to count you as a friend of Ireland.

Every year thousands of American fans travel to our shores for the game and the warmth of our hospitality.

In fact, the recent Notre Dame / Navy Aer Lingus College Football Classic resulted in the largest single movement of American citizens outside of the U.S. since World War II!

This year we look forward to welcoming the Kansas State Wildcats and the Iowa State Cyclones to Dublin.

And this year for the first time, an NFL regular season game will be played in Ireland.

I can’t wait to see the Pittsburgh Steelers play in Croke Park, and it will be a day where we fondly remember Dan Rooney and his contribution to Ireland.

Beyond their social value, sports are a uniquely powerful cultural and economic driver. As the “American Sports Decade” approaches, with marquee events such as the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, many Irish fans will travel to the US to witness these world-class competitions.

While all eyes at home will be on rugby this Saturday for the final weekend of the Six Nations, I know that many have already made plans to see the Irish Rugby Team play at Soldier Stadium in Chicago in the Fall, continuing our great rivalry with the mighty All Blacks, a rivalry that sparked to life in that same stadium in 2016.

Others are eagerly planning to converge on Long Island to watch Europe and America compete for the Ryder Cup at Beth Page in September. We look forward to welcoming the winning team who will travel to Adare, County Limerick to defend their title in two years’ time.

Sport, like politics and business, has a unique ability to bring people together, to create connections that transcend borders.

Transcending borders and creating connections is the lifeblood of The Ireland Funds. It is hard to overstate the profound impact that the Ireland Funds have had on both sides of the Atlantic.

Over the years, your generosity has contributed more than $650 million to more than 3,000 organisations which, simply put, are changing the lives of people across Ireland, North and South.

In fact, 2024 was one of the most successful years, with $28.5 million invested in over 330 non-profit organisations.

As Taoiseach and, indeed a former Minister for Education, I am deeply grateful for your contribution and commitment to education.

Last year, The Ireland Funds provided over 450 university scholarships to deserving students in Ireland, many from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In addition, 74 scholarships were for Irish students to pursue a Master’s degree abroad – several of whom are in the US today.

These students are tomorrow’s nurses, doctors, engineers, journalists, and leaders who will shape our world – innovating in medicine, advancing technologies, and addressing critical societal challenges.

The impact of The Ireland Funds is felt not just in Ireland, but also in Irish communities across the U.S.

From education and community development to peacebuilding and the arts, your work continues to shape a better, brighter future for the Irish community at home and abroad. We deeply appreciate it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, last year we marked a century of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States.

As we continue to celebrate this milestone, we acknowledge the extraordinary journey and growth in this relationship.

Today, Ireland and the US have a significant and mutually beneficial economic relationship.

Ireland has grown to be in the top ten as a source of foreign direct investment into the US, supporting the jobs of hundreds of thousands of people across the US.

These extraordinary numbers illustrate the importance of a positive transatlantic trading relationship.

Our shared prosperity depends on it.

Looking back on my engagements this week in Austin, Texas and here in DC, I am filled with optimism for the future. The partnership between Ireland and the United States is strong and enduring.

Together, we will continue to build on the legacy of friendship, solidarity and shared success.

To all of you here tonight -- thank you for your unwavering support, your generosity, and your belief in the power of our connection.

Special thanks to CEO Caitríona Fottrell, Senior VP and gala lead Rory MacIntyre and the entire Ireland Funds team for their tireless work in making this event such a tremendous success.

Your dedication ensures that Ireland and the United States will continue to thrive together in the years ahead.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh agus beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh go léir.

Thank you, and a very happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all.