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WASHINGTON—Today, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced that the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon will be held on Thursday, March 16, in the Rayburn Room of the United States Capitol.
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister of Ireland Enda Kenny are scheduled to attend the St. Patrick’s Day tradition on Capitol Hill. The event was started in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan and Speaker Tip O’Neill as an ode to America’s commitment to peace and security in Ireland.
“This is a great tradition that I am proud to carry on as speaker and as a Ryan with roots in Kilkenny,” Speaker Ryan said. “I am excited to welcome the Taoiseach and the president to the Capitol to honor the history between our peoples—and maybe tell a joke or two while doing so.”
Take a look back at last year’s Friends of Ireland luncheon and learn more about the tradition here.
