ust irish and american families, not just irish american families. these stories just irish american families. these stories are just irish american families. these stories are the very heart of what binds stories are the very heart of what binds ireland and america together. they speak to history, defined by our dreams. they speak to a present shared our dreams. they speak to a present shared responsibility and a future, poised shared responsibility and a future, poised for shared responsibility and a future, poised for unlimited shared possibilities so today i like to reflect possibilities so today i like to reflect on the enduring strength of the connections between ireland and the connections between ireland and the united the connections between ireland and the united states. a partnership for the united states. a partnership for the ages the united states. a partnership for the ages. began with our shared history the ages. began with our shared history
also found known hardship and division. we ve also found solace and sympathy of one another. and injust four years, before one another. and injust four years, before we one another. and injust four years, before we issued our declaration of independence benjamin franklin came to the independence benjamin franklin came to the irish independence benjamin franklin came to the irish parliament and declared and described it as i quote disposed and described it as i quote disposed to be friends of america. in disposed to be friends of america. in turn disposed to be friends of america. inturnthe disposed to be friends of america. in turn the next two techs of ireland in turn the next two techs of ireland 1960 proclamation displayed mainly ireland1960 proclamation displayed mainly in ireland 1960 proclamation displayed mainly in the main floor of this building mainly in the main floor of this building draws on the support of ireland s building draws on the support of
the way, i promise you. we ve always been and we been together and we are oin been and we been together and we are going to been and we been together and we are going to continue to grow our enormous going to continue to grow our enormous economic as a foundation for both enormous economic as a foundation for both our enormous economic as a foundation for both our nations prosperity. again for both our nations prosperity. again i for both our nations prosperity. again i continue to strengthen our economies, pulling them from the bottom economies, pulling them from the bottom out in the middle out. yesterday and always already ireland draws yesterday and always already ireland draws a yesterday and always already ireland draws a significant proportion of investment from the united states of america investment from the united states of america. the same is true for ireland s america. the same is true for ireland s into the united states of america. ireland s into th
allowed brass plaque saying, no irish allowed brass plaque saying, no irish allowed. i said i get it. i get it. it allowed. i said i get it. i get it. it speaks allowed. i said i get it. i get it. it speaks above all to the values that have it speaks above all to the values that have sustained these people throughout the hardships in their lives throughout the hardships in their lives without freedom, equality, dignity. lives without freedom, equality, dignity, family, courage. my mum used dignity, family, courage. my mum used to dignity, family, courage. my mum used to have an expression, joey, courage used to have an expression, joey, courage is used to have an expression, joey, courage is the greatest virtue of all, without courage you can t love with abandon. without courage you can t loved with abandon. without courage you can t loved with abandon. these were the values can t loved with abandon. these were the values handed down to generations and generatio