Irish-American Heritage Month

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"George Bush: Proclamation 6259 – Irish-American Heritage Month, 1991 Congress again proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month for 1995 and 1996.H.J. Res. 401/Public Law 103-379 Designating the months of March 1995 and March 1996 as Irish-American Heritage Month

Within the authority of the executive branch, the President of the United States has also issued a proclamation each year since 1991.US Census Press Releases The American Presidency Project

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. 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." The luncheon is attended by the President, Vice President, the Taoiseach, the Speaker, and other officials.Remarks by the President at Friends of Ireland Luncheon – U.S. Capitol The White House, March 20, 2012. In the evening, a Saint Patrick's Day Reception takes place at the White House.Remarks by President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Prime Minister Kenny of Ireland at St. Patrick's Day Reception The White House, March 21, 2012.

2026: Presidential message in lieu of proclamation

In March 2026, President Donald Trump did not issue a formal presidential proclamation designating March as Irish-American Heritage Month, the first time since the observance was established in 1991 that no such proclamation was issued. Trump had issued formal proclamations in each year of his first term (2017–2020) and again for March 2025 at the start of his second term.

Instead, on March 17, 2026 — Saint Patrick's Day itself — the White House published a "Presidential Message on Saint Patrick's Day and Irish American Heritage Month," which acknowledged the month and expressed support for the Irish-American community and U.S.–Ireland relations. Unlike a presidential proclamation — a formal executive document published in the Federal Register that constitutes an official designation and typically calls on relevant institutions to observe the occasion — a presidential message carries no such official status.

The absence of a proclamation was noted by Irish-American media and advocacy groups ahead of the Taoiseach's annual Shamrock Ceremony visit to the White House.

George H.W. Bush Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations

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

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 Proclamation 7409 – Irish-American Heritage Month, 2001White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 26, 2001

Proclamation 7526 – Irish-American Heritage Month 2002 White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Mar 4, 2002

Proclamation 7649 – Irish-American Heritage Month, 2003White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 28, 2003

Proclamation 7760 – Irish-American Month, 2004 White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Mar 6, 2004

Proclamation 7873 – Irish-American Heritage Month, 2005 White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Mar 4, 2005

Proclamation 7983 – Irish-American Heritage Month, 2006White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 24, 2007

Proclamation 8107 – Irish-American Heritage Month, 2007White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 26, 2007

Proclamation 8223 – Irish-American Heritage Month, 2008White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, Feb 29, 2008

Barack Obama Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations

Proclamation 8350 – Irish-American Heritage Month, 2009White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, March 2, 2009

Proclamation 8479 – Irish-American Heritage Month, 2010White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, March 1, 2010

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2011White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, March 1, 2011

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2012White House Press Release: Irish-American Heritage Month, March 1, 2012

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2013 (February 28, 2013)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2014 (February 28, 2014)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2015 (February 27, 2015)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2016 (February 29, 2016)

Donald Trump Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations Irish-American Heritage Month, 2017 (March 1, 2017)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2018 (February 28, 2018)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2019 (March 1, 2019)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2020 (February 29, 2020)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2025 (March 6, 2025)

Joseph Biden Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamations Irish-American Heritage Month, 2021 (March 1, 2021)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2022 (February 28, 2022)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2023 (February 28, 2023)

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2024 (February 29, 2024)

Canadian Proclamations

Irish Heritage Month, 2022 (March 1, 2022)

Irish Heritage Month, 2023 (March 1, 2023)

Irish-American Heritage Month

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