Irish Heritage Month

Not only is March 17 dedicated to the Patron Saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, but the entire month of March is dedicated to the Irish.  Starting in 1991, March has been declared Irish American Heritage Month.  It's a good thing, too because there are a lot of Irish in America.  According to the Census Bureau, 34.7 million people claimed Irish ancestry in 2010 - that's more than the seven times the population of Ireland.  The President issues a proclamation declaring the month every year.  Read President Obama's 2012 address in the Federal Register.  You also may be interested in reading a message from the Executive Director of the Office of Diversity and Civil Rights, part of the US Customs and Border Protection.  In it, he discusses the impacts made by Irish immigrants and their descendents, including Sandra Day O'Conner, Spencer Tracy, and President John F. Kennedy.  On a related note, the Library of Congress has a great website on immigration and the contributions that immigrants have made to the United States.  It talks about the cultural impact they have had, how they've adapted, and the religious issues they faced.  Of course, there is a section on the Irish.  However, you can also read about the immigrant experience of those from Africa, Germany, Scandinavia, Mexico, China, and more.