Press release
Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s St Patrick’s Day Visit to the United States of America
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will undertake an official visit to the United States from 10 to 14 March to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. The Taoiseach will travel to Austin (Texas) first for a series of political, economic and Irish community engagements, as well as attending South by Southwest (SXSW), before travelling to Washington DC for the traditional St Patrick’s Day celebrations as well as a full programme of economic engagements.
The traditional high-level political engagements in Washington DC will take place on Wednesday, 12 March. The Taoiseach will meet bilaterally with President Donald J Trump.
Discussions are expected to cover a broad agenda of issues, including the deep ties between the United States and Ireland, as well as our vibrant economic relationship; and shared global challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The meeting will also be an opportunity for the Taoiseach to update President Trump on the situation in Northern Ireland, recognising the huge contribution the US has made to securing peace in Northern Ireland.
The White House St Patrick’s Day reception, including the traditional shamrock gifting ceremony, will take place on the evening of 12 March. The Taoiseach will present President Trump with the traditional shamrock bowl, extending St Patrick’s Day greetings from the people of Ireland to the people of the United States.
The Taoiseach’s programme commences on Monday, 10 March, in Austin, Texas. He will meet with the Governor of the State of Texas, Greg Abbott, to discuss the deep economic and people-to-people ties between the State and Ireland. In recognition of those strong economic links, in the morning, the Taoiseach will visit the HQ of Dell, a long-time investor and employer in Ireland. He will also visit Tricentis, a US software company, where the Taoiseach will help announce the company’s investment in Ireland. In the afternoon, the Taoiseach will visit SXSW where he will meet with a number of Enterprise Ireland client companies, open a Screen Ireland event and attend a Pop-Up Gaeltacht. He will also have an on-stage interview, the only interview with a head of Government at SXSW. That evening, the Taoiseach will speak at the Consulate General’s St Patrick’s Day reception taking place in Ireland House at SXSW.
On Tuesday, 11 March, the Taoiseach will start the day with a visit to the Texas State Legislature, meeting with State Legislators, before departing for Washington DC. His first event in Washington DC that evening will be the Embassy of Ireland annual St Patrick’s Day reception.
On Thursday, 13 March, the Taoiseach will showcase the strength of the US-Ireland economic relationship. He will host a working breakfast with members of the newly established Strategic Economic Advisory Panel (SEAP). Following this, he will attend and speak at a series of events hosted by Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the US Chamber of Commerce, meeting senior US and Irish executives to explore how the Ireland-US two-way trade and investment partnership can help create more jobs and growth in both countries. He will also present Research Ireland’s St Patrick’s Medals to Prof Richard Kearney for his academic achievements in field of philosophy and to Mr. Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer.
On the evening of 13 March, the Taoiseach will attend the Ireland Funds National Gala. This will be an opportunity to reflect on the strong and deep relationship between Ireland and the US and to thank the US for its immense contribution to fostering peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
On Friday, 14 March, the Taoiseach will have a number of further economic engagements and will also visit the HQ of Hanley Energy, an Irish company specialising in design, development and supply of solutions for data centres and which is investing heavily in the US market. The Taoiseach will also meet with high-level representatives of the US Jewish community to discuss the rise of global antisemitism and actions by Ireland to combat antisemitism, both at home and internationally.
Speaking in advance his visit, the Taoiseach said:
“St Patrick’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate Ireland’s international connections and partnerships, which enrich both Ireland and our partners overseas. The US is one of Ireland’s strongest partners, a partnership built on a rich foundation of ancestral ties and close economic, diplomatic and political links. I am looking forward to visiting Austin and Washington to celebrate this enduring and dynamic relationship. My visit will aim to further strengthen the bonds between our two countries with a focus on economic, political and people-to-people connections.
“It is the people-to-people connections and our diaspora in the US that is the engine that drives the relationship between Ireland and the US. Many of the events in Austin and Washington DC will be an opportunity to recognise their invaluable contribution both to the US across the fields of innovation, creativity, community development, business, and academia, and to deepening the close bonds across the Atlantic.
“My visit is also an opportunity to highlight our strong and growing trade and investment relationship, a relationship that is increasingly two-way. Ireland is the 6th largest source of foreign direct investment in the US, supporting hundreds and thousands of jobs across the US. This substantial investment underscores the commitment of Irish enterprises to the US market and reflects a deepening economic interdependence between the two countries. I look forward to engaging with Irish and US companies working to grow this mutually beneficial relationship.
“I also look forward to attending South by Southwest in Austin where I will help to showcase Ireland’s well-deserved reputation for innovation and creativity and to support business–to-business connections in key sectors.
“I am delighted to be meeting with President Trump and to have an opportunity to reflect with him on the bilateral relationship. President Trump knows Ireland well, having visited on a number of occasions and I know that his beautiful golf club in Doonbeg is very close to his heart. I will update him on the situation in Northern Ireland and express our deep appreciation to the US for their continued support for peace and reconciliation on our island.
“My visit to the US comes at a moment of great peril for the world. The US remains an indispensable partner and global actor. I look forward to discussing with President Trump how Ireland, together with our EU partners, can work with him and his administration to end conflict and to secure peace, whether in the Middle East or in Ukraine.”