Rhode Island is regarded as one of the most Irish states, ranking in the top 5 of all states for the highest number of citizens with Irish heritage according to the 2020 Census. The Irish communities have played a significant role in Rhode Island's history, including in the construction of Fort Adams, which is the largest coastal fortification in the country and was once known as 'The Rock on Which the Storm Shall Beat,' a military stronghold. Speaker Pro Tempore of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Brian Patrick Kennedy, exemplifies someone with Irish heritage.
Speaker Pro Tempore Kennedy, who is also the current President of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) and one of the National Co-Chairs of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus, earlier this year welcomed Senator Mark Daly to the Rhode Island Legislature. During this visit, Senator Daly toured both the House of Representatives and the Senate, making all members
Speaker Pro Tempore of the Rhode Island House of Representative, Brian Patrick Kennedy, Senator Mark Daly and Khalil Joseph Shekarchi Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
Arizona and Ireland have shared deep ties for many years. The city of Tucson, AZ, was founded by Roscommon descendant and Irishman Hugo O'Connor in 1775. Now, Tucson and Roscommon are sister cities, a bond formed through the Sister Cities Programme.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement, the Arizona Senate passed a resolution. The reading into the record of this resolution was broadcast.
The Arizona Colleen, a heritage pageant initiated in 1983, saw this year's Colleen, Mackenzie Shane, visiting Roscommon earlier this month. During her visit, Mackenzie met with Mayor Councillor John Keogh. Furthermore, Mackenzie was present in the Arizona Legislature this March when members of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus passed a resolution celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement.
The connections between Ireland and the State of Utah have been growing since the first-ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in 1864, the Irish Heritage in Utah is clearly seen by the names on many of the buildings in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Keith O'Brien Building, Gallivan Plaza and the Kearns Building.
The American Irish State Legislators Caucus has been established and its leadership includes President Pro Tempore Senator Wayne Harper, Senator Curtis Bramble, Senator Stuart Adams, Senator Evan Vickers, Representative Gay Lynn Bennion, Representative Brian King, Representative Rosemary Lesser and Representative Andrew Stoddard.
The Utah State Senate solidifying these links passed a resolution acknowledging and celebrating St Patrick's Day.
The Irish Diaspora holds a substantial presence in Indiana, especially in its capital, Indianapolis, where they represent the second-largest ethnic group. Indianapolis annually celebrates its Irish heritage through the Indy Irish Fest every September, and on St. Patrick's Day, festivities include a parade and the traditional dyeing of the Indiana Central Canal green.
The American Irish State Legislators Caucus, initially established by Representative Matt Lehman, continues to flourish under the co-chairmanship of Representative Tim O’Brien, showing an ever-growing strength.
Irish Cabinet member Minister Darragh O'Brien visited the American Irish State Legislators Caucus in Georgia this year. He was invited by Co-Chair Representative John Carson to address the State House to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement, which brought an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
With almost 1 million people in Georgia claiming Irish heritage, links between Ireland and the State are deep. There are especially strong bonds between Savannah, Georgia and County Wexford, Ireland, so much so that Georgia Southern University was the first ever American public university to open an outreach learning centre in Ireland, located in Wexford Town. Savannah also has the honor of being the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the United States (behind only New York City), with bands and marching groups from across the country.
Irish Ambassador to the United States visits Louisiana, Meets with American-Irish State Legislators Caucus.
With a historical connection of 300 years and approximately 8% of the population claiming Irish ancestors, Ireland's Ambassador to the United States embarked on a two-day visit to Louisiana. The visit commenced at the State Capitol, where the Ambassador met with State Legislators, including members of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus. The Senate President, Senator Cortez, and Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Beth Mizell, warmly welcomed the ambassador on the Senate floor.
Massachusetts has always had a large and thriving Irish American Community, indeed 19.8% of the population claim Irish ancestry, which is about double the national population percentage of 9.7%.
The State Legislature in Massachusetts has always had a strong community of Irish Americans, including the current Ambassador to Ireland, Ambassador Claire Cronin who served as the majority leader in the State House, before taking up her post as Ambassador.
Some of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus members in Massachusetts and one of its co-chairs Representative John Lawn, celebrated St Patrick's Day by having Chair of the AISLC & 24th Chair of the Senate of Ireland, Irish Senator Mark Daly alongside Deputy Paul McAuliffe (Co-Chair of the Irish Parliamentary Friends of the United States Group) and Laoise Moore, the Consul General of Ireland in Massachusetts, visit the State House and speak on the 175th Anniversary of the Irish Flag.
11.3% of the population of Kansas, the Sunflower State, claim Irish ancestry, this makes Kansas tied with Wyoming at 16th for the most Irish of States.
Kansas City, is also the host of largest Irish festivals in the nation, Kansas City Irish Fest. for over 20 years, Irish Fest comes to life every Labor Day weekend, with music, song, comedy and much more celebrating the States deep ties to Ireland and its culture.
The American Irish State Legislators Caucus in Kansas, is being led by Representative Bill Rhiley and Senator Kristen O'Shea.
Did you know? Ireland is in West Virginia!
Ireland, West Virginia is a small community, named after one of its earliest settlers who emigrated from Ireland.Each Spring, Ireland West Virginia holds its Irish Spring Festival.
Throughout West Virginia, according to the 2000 US Census, over 11% of the total population claim Irish Heritage including many legislators. The American Irish State Legislators Caucus was established in 2022 and presented a legislative citation to the legislature by Delegate John Doyle in March 2022. John sung the Irish National Anthem in the Irish Language at the 2021 NCSL Summit in Tampa.
House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, has also taking a leading role in cemented this relationship following his visit to Ireland as part of a National Conference of State Legislators Delegation in 2022. West Virginia is one of the State's seeking to establish an Ireland Trade Commission.
The Vermont American Irish State Legislators Caucus was established in 2021 and last year passed a St Patrick's Day Resolution in both the House of Representatives were it was offered by: Representatives Burke of Brattleboro, Lanpher of Vergennes, Brady of Williston, Brumsted of Shelburne, Canfield of Fair Haven, Coffey of Guilford, Conlon of Cornwall, Copeland Hanzas of Bradford, Cupoli of Rutland City, Dolan of Waitsfield, Fagan of Rutland City, Killacky of South Burlington, Lippert of Hinesburg, Masland of Thetford, McCormack of Burlington, McCoy of Poultney, McCullough of Williston, McFaun of Barre Town, Ode of Burlington, Page of Newport City, Toof of St. Albans Town, Wood of Waterbury, and Yantachka of Charlotte and in the Senate were it was offered by Senator Lyons.
17% of resident in Vermont claim Irish Heritage, making it the 4th largest Irish American community in the United States.
The American Irish State Legislators Caucus in Hawaii has among its leadership Representative Seán Quinlan whose father is from County Clare, in Ireland and his mother is from Hong Kong. The American Irish State Legislators Caucus is open to everyone those who have Irish Heritage and those who are supporters of Ireland.
Last St Patricks Day, the Hawaii House of Representatives introduced a House Concurrent Resolution recognizing March 17 as St. Patrick's Day in honor of Saint Patrick and in recognition of the longstanding relationship between Ireland and the United States and the noteworthy contributions and achievements of Irish-Americans to the United States. The resolution was sponsored by Rep John Mizuno, Rep Patrick Branco, Rep Lisa Marten, Rep Angus McKelvey, Rep Takashi Ohno, Rep Amy Perruso, Rep Sean Quinlan, Rep Adrian Tam, and Rep James Tokioka.
The resolution was recommended to be passed by the House Culture, Arts, and International Affairs on March 16, 2022. Copies of the resolution will be sent to Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Governor and the National co-chairs of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus.
Last year the Washington state house passed a resolution for St. Patrick's Day 2022 which celebrated the long and enduring links between Ireland and the United States, and the establishment of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus. Among the American Irish State Legislators Caucus in Washington state is Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and Representative Joe Fitzgibbon.
The first documented Irish presence in the State of Washington dates to the expeditions of Captain Vancouver and the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery; and Spokane has the second highest percentage of Irish ancestry of any major city in the United States.
Washington State Senator David Frockt came on a visit to Ireland and received his certificate of membership to the AISLC from the
Chair of the Seanad of Ireland and Chair of the AISLC Senator Mark Daly.
43 members signed the Bi-partisan St Patricks Day last year 2022, including the Speaker of the House Pat Grassley.
Among the leadership of Iowa American Irish State Legislators Caucus is Representative Art Stead. At last year’s NCSL Summit, Representative Stead presented AISLC Chair, Senator Mark Daly the St Patricks Day resolution.
Iowa is 12th on the list of most Irish states in the U.S. In fact, Dubuque is the 11th most Irish city, according to the report. Iowa is 13% Irish with 408,494 residents that identify as Irish.
Read More: Iowa is One of the Most Irish States in the U.S.| https://khak.com/how-irish-is-iowa/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
In the 2010 census, more than 109,000 Mississippians (5.3% of the population) claimed Irish ancestry, some members of the Mississippi Irish American State Legislators Caucus visited Ireland this month.
Last year The Mississippi State Senate introduced S.R. 24, a Senate Resolution commemorating the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and recognizing the cultural and historic links between Ireland and Mississippi and the establishment of the American-Irish State Legislators Caucus.
The resolution was sponsored by Senator Tyler McCaughn, Senator Dean Kirby, Senator Kevin Blackwell, Senator David Blount, Senator Willie Simmons, Senator Jeremy England, Senator Juan Barnett, Senator Kelvin Butler, and Senator Chris McDaniel. The resolution was passed on March 8, 2022.
Last August, the Nebraska Cornhuskers played the Northwestern Wildcats in Dublin on Saturday 27th August 2022 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. We welcomed people from Nebraska to Dublin as they cheered on their team! Nebraska's new Bipartisan American Irish State Legislators Caucus was established in advance of St Patrick's Day 2022. Its leadership include Senator John Cavanaugh and Senator Machaela Cavanaugh. The Nebraska legislature passed a resolution recognizing March 2022 as Irish-American Heritage Month.
Senator John Cavanaugh and Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, some of the leadership of the Nebraska American Irish State Legislators Caucus
Oklahoma new Bi-partisan American Irish State Legislators Caucus was established in advance of St Patricks Day 2022 and its leadership include Senator Carri Hicks, Representative Terry O'Donnell, Senator Mary Boren and Representative John Waldron. As well as passing a resolution and a St Patrick's Day & a gathering of members of the Caucus some also participated in the St Patrick's Day parade at Stockyard as the AISLC. The members of the Oklahoma AISLC also visited Ireland in August 2022 and attended the College Football game.
The New Jersey American Irish State Legislators Caucus visited Ireland in April 2022. During their visit the met with Government officials and Ministers, including a visit to the Irish Parliament with the Chair of the Irish Senate, Senator Mark Daly, meetings with the Minister for State with Responsibility for Business and Trade, Robert Troy, diplomats from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and the United States Ambassador and former state legislator Claire Cronin. The Caucus also met with business leaders in Dublin, Clare, Limerick and Belfast including the CEO of the American Irish Chamber of Commerce and the organiser of the American Football in Ireland, who are bringing Notre Dame and Navy to Dublin in August 2023. On their visit to Belfast, they visited the Northern Irish Parliament meeting with the Speaker Alex Maskey, saw the American Businesses based in Belfast and met with both sides of the community in Belfast having an eye opening experience of learning of the Good Friday Agreement, specifically the role American Legislators have played in this successful peace agreement and the support still needed today.
Pennsylvanian Caucus is one of the longest established caucuses in the United States, it’s not known for sure who started the Pennsylvania Caucus the true story is lost in the mist of time but the collective wisdom is that it might have been Representative Tom Corrigan of Bucks County who served from 1987 to 2006. Under one of the current leaders Representative Tim Hennessy the St Patrick's Day events used to include Irish Dancers performing on the floor of the chamber, he took up the challenge of organising the St Patrick's Day event in Harrisburg when he was elected over 30 years ago when Matt Ryan was speaker. With the assistance of Representative Mary Jo Daley, alongside the other leadership and members they will have a St Patrick's Day event when they are back in session.
