For Immediate Release
March 12, 2025
Contact: Taylor Haulsee
WASHINGTON — Today in the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol, Speaker Johnson hosted President Donald Trump and Taoiseach Micheal Martin for the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon, a St. Patrick’s Day tradition which began in 1983.
The event featured remarks from Speaker Johnson, President Trump, and Taoiseach Martin as well as a musical and dance performance from the famous Riverdance Irish Dance troupe.
Following the luncheon, Speaker Johnson hosted Taoiseach Martin for a bilateral meeting to discuss the United States-Ireland relationship.
Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here
Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:
I mentioned earlier that Irish Americans have left an indelible mark on American history, and I had a few facts I wanted to share with you this afternoon to have you consider these. Irish men and women have taken up arms among American soldiers, they’ve made unmatched contributions to music and literature and the arts, and they punch well above their weight in American government.
Many Irish nationals played an essential role during the American Revolution. John Barry, for example, was an Irishman who received the first commission issued by the Continental Congress and is considered the father of our American Navy. He later became the first Navy captain to seize a British ship. We had three Irishmen who signed our Declaration of Independence: George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, and James Smith.
One of the most recognized houses in the world was designed by James Hoban, an Irishman from County Kilkenny when he designed our White House.
And 23 of the 45 men who have served as United States President, have Irish heritage, many of them proudly, and same for hundreds of congressmen and senators who have walked these hallowed halls. Today we celebrate their contributions and the truly special relationship among the United States and Ireland and the Irish people.
I have the pleasure of introducing our own head of state here. This luncheon offers an opportunity for both Americans and the Irish to reflect on our past and on our future. In 1981, Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Daniel Moynihan and Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill started this great tradition, the Congressional Friends of Ireland.
They aimed to celebrate their shared Irish heritage deep in ties between our two nations and promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. In 1983, the Friends of Ireland luncheon was born when President Ronald Reagan, of course of proud Irish heritage and the Taoiseach visited Capitol Hill to celebrate Irish heritage and St. Patrick’s Day. This lunch was the embodiment of that, of charity and friendship across political differences. And it has led to real world international diplomatic successes.
Many historians credit the advocacy of the Friends of Ireland caucus as essential in the signing of the Good Friday agreement. And we welcome continued efforts to promote and preserve this agreement and promises of a bright future for the Friends of Ireland.
Last year I hosted this luncheon alongside President Biden. Our political differences were on stark display. It was obvious, that’s an understatement. But he was our incumbent Democratic President, and I was the Republican House Speaker and still we shared laughs at the table at this event. It was one of the rare moments of the year where we could do that. That’s what this, this celebration is all about. We laid down our swords, and in the spirit of Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan, we broke bread together and celebrated what binds us all together rather than what divides us.
This year is a little different, of course, the political dynamics on Capitol Hill are extraordinarily different. President Trump is back in the White House. Republicans control both chambers of Congress here, in our form of government, we call that unified government.
A year ago, people thought I was crazy for predicting that we would be here today, but we are. And we’re facing a new dawn for America and our bilateral relationships, and I know that we can look forward to working together to promote and preserve our friendships. It’s an important and formative time around the world to do that.
So, in keeping with the proud US-Ireland tradition and the spirit of the Friends of Ireland luncheon, it is my great privilege to present the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.
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