St. Patrick's Day
Press StatementHillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCMarch 16, 2011
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Ireland as they celebrate St. Patrick's Day this March 17th. The bonds between our two nations stretch back to the beginnings of both republics, and the ties of kinship, history, and shared values run deep. Americans also celebrate this holiday as an occasion to commemorate the innumerable contributions Ireland’s sons and daughters have made in building the United States. Thanks to the many millions of Irish-Americans in the United States – as well as the millions more who feel Irish for a day – St. Patrick’s Day unites our countries by a shared appreciation for the Irish spirit. Please accept my best wishes for another year of peace and prosperity. Erin go Bragh!
I hope and pray that soon Secretary Clinton will be wheels up safely from Tunis and stopping to refuel at Shannon Airport. She was there last year on St. Patrick's Day, too, on her way to Russia. Happy St. Patrick's Day, Mme. Secretary, and come home safely.
