Remarks by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny at White House reception

For generations now there’s been a special relationship between The President of the United States and the Irish people.

In fact there are unconfirmed reports that President Lincoln himself is living in County Wicklow.

In 1963 President Kennedy came ‘home’ to Ireland. He told our parliament about the Irish Brigade the Fighting 69th.

Thanks to him the Brigade’s Green flag speaks almost as eloquently as he did in Leinster House today.

From Bull Run to Fredericksburg to Gettysburg the Fighting 69th distinguished themselves on the battlefield showing an outstanding courage intelligence resilience.

Their battle cry was Fág an Bealach Clear the Way.

Generations on it rings out high and loud and clear at the other side of the Atlantic.

Because after difficult years we the Irish people are at last clearing the way.

Táimid ag fágaint an bealach.

To a better brighter more prosperous future. This time for us all.

Mr President a chairde Gael there’s still a way to go on our national journey of recovery.

But tonight I’m proud to say here at the White House.

That confidence is returning to our country our people.

Here this evening with this bowl that contains the traditional gift of shamrock we have a perfect example of that new confidence that new hope.

Unlike ‘the bowl of bitter tears’ of James Joyce and President Kennedy. This bowl made by Sean Egan in a 300-hour labour-of-love sparkles with the story of who we are now.

It glistens with the story of what we once brought here on this risky yet life-giving journey to America. Not alone those memories of place and home and family. But our songs our music our stories. Sung recited ‘til they were threadbare.

So that new generations so many of you here could make them your own.

Just as we Irish made our own of America today in Ireland we do as we have always done.

As a nation we make joy from sadness. As a country we forge success from difficulty. As a Republic we create ourselves anew.

And as we do we remember we honour the old. They say that if we laid out a timber memorial for every Irish man woman and child buried at sea on the Famine crossing we could walk from Cork to Boston. They remain as we say in Irish idir eadartha in- between.

Ethereal emissaries between past and future. Between two nations two republics who stand proud and determined and strong either side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Exhilarated by the possibilities of science. Intrigued by the potential of discovery. Curious about the secrets and powers of invention. United in our passionate belief in the capacity of experiment and thought and imagination and indeed intuition itself to transform our lives our futures our world.

And when the crew of the International Space Station look down on this world and see it go a little greener. Chances are they don’t think of Americans or British or Indonesians. They might well think ‘down there that’s our human family, the family of man and they’re at home’.

And because we are Mr President.
For all we build for all we make in politics or finance or business or economics. We know that our real wealth is in the reserves of love and kindness of insight and understanding of courage and compassion.

So carefully, often painfully accrued.

As we celebrate St Patrick let us build on those reserves to build better nations better people a better world.

There, here, Mr President ‘the sun is new every day’.

May it shine brightly on our peoples and on all that we undertake together in the cause of each other.

In the words of the Fighting 69th

“Our Union Our Country and Ireland Forever”.

Fág an Bealach!