US President Joe Biden paid tribute to his Irish ancestors as he officially proclaimed this month as Irish American Heritage Month at the White House on Monday.
The tradition, which began in 1991, holds special resonance for Biden whose ancestors on both sides of his family hail from Ireland.
In his speech, he paid tribute to his ancestors whom he described as “Irish immigrants (who) arrived on our shores with an unyielding spirit of determination that has helped define America’s soul and shape our success across generations.
"Driven by the same dreams that still beckon people the world over to America today, so many crossed the Atlantic with nothing but the hope in their hearts and their faith in the possibility of a better life.