[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 11 (Monday, March 20, 2006)]
[Pages 489-490]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Saint Patrick's Day Shamrock Presentation Ceremony With 
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Ireland

March 17, 2006

    President Bush. Taoiseach, thank you very much. Welcome back.
    Prime Minister Ahern. Thank you.

[[Page 490]]

    President Bush. Laura and I are delighted to welcome you here to the 
White House. I'm proud to accept the bowl of shamrocks as a symbol of 
our friendship.
    The friendship between Ireland and the United States has deep roots. 
Few people fought as hard for American independence as the sons of Erin. 
At the end of the Revolutionary War, Lord Mountjoy told the House of 
Commons that, ``We've lost America through the Irish.'' The Irish played 
a key role in Washington's army. And in the two centuries since, the 
ties between Ireland and America have only strengthened.
    The ties between Ireland and America are reflected in this great 
house. This house was designed by an Irish architect, and he used as his 
model the grandest building he knew, Leinster House in Ireland. The 
affinities between the two buildings are more than just architectural; 
the White House, built by James Hoban, has been home to every American 
President since John Q. Adams' father, John. The Dublin building that 
inspired him now serves as a free parliament in a free and independent 
Ireland.
    The ties between Ireland and America are also reflected in our 
people. Ireland has one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, and 
its growth is attracting immigrants. For more than a century, that was a 
different story. Millions of Irish came to our shores because of war and 
poverty and famine. Often they arrived with nothing but the faith of 
their fathers and a willingness to work. These men and women who built 
our cities were also the soldiers who defended our freedom in every one 
of our wars. They're the priests and they're the nuns who built a system 
of parochial schools that provided a decent education for millions of 
poor immigrants. And they're now doing the same thing for a new 
generation of African Americans and Latino Americans in our inner 
cities.
    Like Saint Patrick, the Irish in America began their life in their 
new land as exiles, but came to love it as home. Finally, the ties 
between Ireland and America are reflected in our common commitment to 
bring the blessings of liberty to every man and woman and child on this 
Earth.
    In the 20th century, Ireland won its independence and raised up a 
democracy that offered its people a just and better life. In the 21st 
century, Ireland is now helping other nations who share the same 
aspirations for peace and prosperity by fighting hunger and the spread 
of HIV/AIDS in Africa, by supporting relief efforts for victims of the 
tsunami in Asia, and by helping the Afghan people rebuild their lives 
and their country. Ireland is independent when it comes to foreign 
policy, but Ireland is not neutral when it comes to the global 
challenges like hunger and disease and human rights.
    Taoiseach, you're making a big contribution to our world, and we 
appreciate it. The United States appreciates all of Ireland's efforts 
for peace and freedom. Americans are grateful to our Irish friends, and 
we are proud of our Irish heritage.
    The Census Bureau tells us there are more than 34 million Americans 
that claim Irish ancestry. On Saint Patrick's Day, I suspect that number 
jumps a little bit. [Laughter] On this special day, we honor the saint 
who brought the gospel of peace to the Green Isle, and we count 
ourselves blessed by the warm friendship between his adopted land and 
our own.
    Thanks for coming. Appreciate it.

Note: The President spoke at 10:31 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of Prime Minister Ahern.