merrion street

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is today in Chicago on the first part of his US trip to mark Saint Patrick's Day. The Taoiseach met this morning with Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, and presented him with a sprig of shamrocks.

Last night, the Taoiseach addressed the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago at their St Patrick's day dinner:

I’m particularly delighted to be here in Chicago, the hometown of President

Obama and his family.

In Dublin last May he spoke of Chicago being the Irish capital of the

mid-West.

And I stand here today very conscious of the history of the Irish in

Chicago and across the mid-West. It’s certainly an honour to be in the

company of so many Irish friends today.

You are most probably aware that President Obama has, in fact, designated

the month of March Irish American Heritage Month here in the States, in

honour of ‘the sons and daughters of Erin’ who “demonstrated extraordinary

strength and unshakable faith as they gave their all to help build an

America worthy of the journey they and so many others had taken”.

The Taoiseach spoke of Ireland's economic recovery and of the launch of The Gathering 2013:

My key message to you today is very simple. The Irish economy is growing

again. Our public finances have stabilised. The Government is determined to

deliver long-term and sustainable growth.

As you know, next year we’re hosting The Gathering -  Ireland’s biggest

ever tourism initiative - a year long celebration of what is best about

Ireland, its people, its culture.

And we’re sending the mother-of-all invitations to our Irish family, by

birth, by adoption, by desire. I’m delighted to host this 2013

Gathering on the 50th anniversary of John F Kennedy’s coming ‘home’ to

Ireland. Of course, you are all invited to join in that celebration and in

doing so to reconnect with your Irish roots.