Annual observance in March
Irish-American Heritage Month
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Observed by
| United States, Canada
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Type
| National, heritage, cultural, ethnic
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Significance
| Celebration of Irish-Americans contributions
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Date
| Month of March
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Frequency
| annual
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Irish Heritage Month
is an annual observance originating in the
United States
, where it is known as
Irish-American Heritage Month
. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and
Canada
. It was first celebrated by proclamation of the President and Congress in the United States to honor the achievements and contributions of
Irish Americans
. The heritage month is in March to coincide with
Saint Patrick's Day
, the Irish national holiday on March 17. Heritage Months are usually proclaimed by nations to celebrate centuries of contributions by a group to a country.
Saint Patrick's Day is a Catholic religious holiday that honors
the saint
, who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the early fifth century. It has developed in the United States as a celebration of all things Irish. With large ethnic Irish populations,
Boston
and New York City both claim the world's first Saint Patrick's Day parade, while
Philadelphia
claims to be the second oldest behind New York City. In New York City, it occurred on March 17, 1762, featuring Irish soldiers serving in the British military protecting the Colonies during the
French and Indian War
. In 1948, President
Harry S. Truman
, of
Scottish
descent, attended the New York Saint Patrick's Day parade and gave a speech to attendees. This was a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and prejudice to find acceptance in the United States. In 1960
John F. Kennedy
was elected as the first Irish American Catholic President; in 1961 he was in New York to review the Saint Patrick's Day Parade.
In tribute to all Irish Americans, the
US Congress
, by Public Law 101-418, designated March 1991 as "Irish-American Heritage Month"
[1]
Congress again proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month for 1995 and 1996.
[2]
Within the authority of the executive branch, the President of the United States has also issued a proclamation each year since 1991.
[3]
[4]
Each year in March, the Irish
Taoiseach
visits the United States for Saint Patrick's Day. A Shamrock Ceremony takes place in the morning at the
White House
where a crystal bowl containing
shamrock
, a traditional symbol of Ireland, is presented to the President in the
Oval Office
. This is followed by a
Friends of Ireland
luncheon hosted by the
House Speaker
in the
U.S. Capitol
or the
Rayburn House Office Building
.
[5]
[6]
The luncheon is attended by the President, Vice President, the Taoiseach, the Speaker, and other officials.
[7]
In the evening, a Saint Patrick's Day Reception takes place at the White House.
[8]
George H.W. Bush Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations
[
edit
]
Proclamation 6259 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 1991
March 12, 1991
Proclamation 6408 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 1992
March 4, 1992
William J. Clinton Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations
[
edit
]
Proclamation 6533 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 1993
March 6, 1993
Proclamation 6656 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 1994
March 8, 1994
Proclamation 6771 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 1995
February 23, 1995
Proclamation 6868 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 1996
March 1, 1996
Proclamation 6974 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 1997
February 27, 1997
Proclamation 7070 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 1998
February 27, 1998
Proclamation 7169 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 1999
March 1, 1999
Proclamation 7279 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2000
March 1, 2000
George W. Bush Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations
[
edit
]
Proclamation 7409 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2001
[9]
Proclamation 7526 ? Irish-American Heritage Month 2002
[10]
Proclamation 7649 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2003
[11]
Proclamation 7760 ? Irish-American Month, 2004
[12]
Proclamation 7873 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2005
[13]
Proclamation 7983 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2006
[14]
Proclamation 8107 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2007
[15]
Proclamation 8223 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2008
[16]
Barack Obama Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations
[
edit
]
Proclamation 8350 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2009
[17]
Proclamation 8479 ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2010
[18]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2011
[19]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2012
[20]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2013 (February 28, 2013)
[21]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2014 (February 28, 2014)
[22]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2015 (February 27, 2015)
[23]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2016 (February 29, 2016)
[24]
Donald Trump Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations
[
edit
]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2017 (March 1, 2017)
[25]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2018 (February 28, 2018)
[26]
Joseph Biden Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations
[
edit
]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2021 (March 1, 2021)
[27]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2022 (February 28, 2022)
[28]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2023 (February 28, 2023)
[29]
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2024 (February 29, 2024)
[30]
Canadian Proclamations
[
edit
]
Irish Heritage Month, 2022 (March 1, 2022)
[31]
Irish Heritage Month, 2023 (March 1, 2023)
[32]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
George Bush: Proclamation 6259 ?
Irish
-American Heritage Month, 1991
- ^
H.J. Res. 401/Public Law 103-379 Designating the months of March 1995 and March 1996 as
Irish-American Heritage Month
- ^
US Census Press Releases
- ^
The American Presidency Project
- ^
Speaker Boehner Addresses the Annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon
Speaker of the House John Boehner, March 20, 2012.
- ^
Remarks at a Saint Patrick's Day Luncheon
, U.S. Government Printing Office, March 17, 1999. "The President spoke at approximately noon in Room H207 of the Rayburn House Office Building."
- ^
Remarks by the President at Friends of Ireland Luncheon ? U.S. Capitol
The White House, March 20, 2012.
- ^
Remarks by President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Prime Minister Kenny of Ireland at St. Patrick's Day Reception
Archived
November 29, 2020, at the
Wayback Machine
The White House, March 21, 2012.
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 26, 2001
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Mar 4, 2002
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 28, 2003
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Mar 6, 2004
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Mar 4, 2005
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 24, 2007
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 26, 2007
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 29, 2008
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, March 2, 2009
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, March 1, 2010
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, March 1, 2011
- ^
White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, March 1, 2012
- ^
"Presidential Proclamation ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2013 | whitehouse.gov"
. February 28, 2013.
- ^
"Presidential Proclamation ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2014 | whitehouse.gov"
. February 28, 2014.
- ^
"Presidential Proclamation ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2015"
.
whitehouse.gov
. February 27, 2015
. Retrieved
March 2,
2017
– via
National Archives
.
- ^
"Presidential Proclamation ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2016"
.
whitehouse.gov
. February 29, 2016
. Retrieved
March 2,
2017
– via
National Archives
.
- ^
"Sean Spicer on Twitter"
.
Twitter
. Retrieved
March 2,
2017
.
- ^
"President Donald J. Trump Proclaims March 2018 as Irish-American Heritage Month"
.
whitehouse.gov
. Retrieved
June 1,
2018
– via
National Archives
.
- ^
"Presidential Proclamation ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2021"
.
whitehouse.gov
. March 1, 2021
. Retrieved
March 1,
2021
.
- ^
"Presidential Proclamation ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2022"
.
whitehouse.gov
. February 28, 2022
. Retrieved
March 16,
2024
.
- ^
"Presidential Proclamation ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2023"
.
whitehouse.gov
. February 28, 2023
. Retrieved
March 16,
2024
.
- ^
"Presidential Proclamation ? Irish-American Heritage Month, 2024"
.
whitehouse.gov
. February 29, 2024
. Retrieved
March 16,
2024
.
- ^
"The Government of Canada marks the first official Irish Heritage Month in Canada"
. March 2022.
- ^
"Statement by Minister Hussen on Irish Heritage Month"
. March 2023.
External links
[
edit
]
Holidays, observances, and celebrations in the United States
|
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January
| |
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January?February
| |
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February
American Heart Month
Black History Month
|
- Birthday of Luis Munoz Marin
(PR)
- Candlemas
(religious)
- Charles Darwin Day / Darwin Day
(CA, DE)
- Day of Remembrance
(CA, OR, WA, cultural)
- Georgia Day
(GA)
- Groundhog Day
- Imbolc
(religious)
- Lincoln's Birthday
(CA, CT, IL, IN, MO, NY, WV)
- National Girls and Women in Sports Day
- National Freedom Day
(36)
- Nirvana Day
(religious)
- Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple
(religious)
- Promised Reformer Day
(religious)
- Ronald Reagan Day
(CA)
- Rosa Parks Day
(CA, MO)
- Saviours' Day
(religious)
- Susan B. Anthony Day
(CA, FL, NY, WI, WV, proposed federal)
- Tu B’shvat
(religious)
|
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February?March
| |
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March
Irish-American Heritage Month
Colon Cancer Awareness Month
Women's History Month
|
- Annunciation of the Virgin Mary / Annunciation of the Theotokos
(religious)
- Casimir Pulaski Day
(IL)
- Cesar Chavez Day
(CA, CO, TX, proposed federal)
- Emancipation Day in Puerto Rico
(PR, cultural)
- Evacuation Day
(Suffolk County, MA)
- Harriet Tubman Day
(NY)
- Hola Mohalla
(religious)
- Holi
(NY, religious)
- L. Ron Hubbard's Birthday
(religious)
- Lailat al-Mi'raj
(religious)
- Liberation and Freedom Day
(Charlottesville, VA, cultural)
- Mardi Gras
(AL (in two counties), LA)
- Maryland Day
(MD)
- Medal of Honor Day
- National Poison Prevention Week
(week)
- Nowruz
(cultural, religious)
- Ostara
(religious)
- Pi Day
- Prince Jonah K?hi? Kalaniana?ole Day
(HI)
- Promised Messiah Day
(religious)
- Saint Joseph's Day
(religious)
- Seward's Day
(AK)
- Texas Independence Day
(TX)
- Town Meeting Day
(VT)
- Transfer Day
(VI)
- Trans Day of Visibility
(cultural)
|
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March?April
|
- Good Friday
(CT, NC, PR, NJ, VI, religious)
- Hanuman Jayanti
(religious)
- Holy Thursday
(PR, VI, religious)
- Holy Week
(PR, religious, week)
- Lazarus Saturday
(religious)
- Mahavir Janma Kalyanak
(religious)
- Mesha Sankranti / Hindu New Year
(religious)
- Palm Sunday
(PR, religious)
- Passover
(religious, week)
- Easter Monday / Bright Monday
(VI, religious)
- Ramnavami
(religious)
- Chandramana Uugadi / Souramana Uugadi
(religious)
|
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April
Arab American Heritage Month
Confederate History Month
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May
Asian American and
Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Military Appreciation Month
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June
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Pride Month
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July
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July?August
| |
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August
| |
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September
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
| |
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September?October
Hispanic Heritage Month
| |
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October
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Disability Employment Awareness Month
Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
Filipino American History Month
LGBT History Month
| |
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October?November
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November
Native American Indian Heritage Month
|
- Ascension of ‘Abdu’l Baha
(religious)
- All Saints' Day
(religious)
- Beginning of the Nativity Fast
(religious)
- Beltane
/
Samhain
(religious)
- Barack Obama Day in Alabama
(Perry County, AL)
- D. Hamilton Jackson Day
(VI)
- Day after Thanksgiving
(24)
- Day of the Covenant
(religious)
- Discovery of Puerto Rico Day
(PR)
- Election Day
(CA, DE, HI, KY, MT, NJ, NY, OH, PR, VA, WV, proposed federal)
- Family Day
(NV)
- Guru Nanak Gurpurab
(religious)
- Hanukkah
(religious)
- L? K??oko?a
(HI, unofficial, cultural)
- Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
(religious)
- Native American Heritage Day
(MD, WA, cultural)
- Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple
(religious)
- Trans Day of Remembrance
(cultural)
- Unthanksgiving Day
(cultural)
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December
|
- Advent Sunday
(religious)
- Alabama Day
(AL)
- Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib
(religious)
- Bodhi Day
(religious)
- Chalica
(religious)
- Christmas Eve
(KY, NC, SC, PR, VI)
- Day after Christmas
(KY, NC, SC, TX, VI)
- Festivus
- HumanLight
- Hanukkah
(religious, week)
- Immaculate Conception
(religious)
- Indiana Day
(IN)
- Kwanzaa
(cultural, week)
- Milad Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin
(religious)
- National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
(36)
- Nativity of Jesus
(religious)
- Old Year's Night
(VI)
- Pan American Aviation Day
(36)
- Pancha Ganapati
(religious, week)
- Rosa Parks Day
(OH, OR)
- Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
(religious)
- Wright Brothers Day
(36)
- Yule
(religious)
- Zartosht No-Diso
(religious)
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Varies (year round)
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