HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2023-4628

HR 4628

ByRepresentative Fitzgibbon

WHEREAS, On March 17th, during the annual celebration of the Feast of Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, Irish Americans join with men, women, and children of all other ethnic origins who, for one day, become Irish and celebrate Saint Patrick and a love for Ireland; and

WHEREAS, On Saint Patrick's Day, all who wear green live for a day in the spirit of Saint Patrick, Bridget, and Columcille whose 1,500th anniversary was in the last year; and

WHEREAS, Irish immigrants to the United States helped form the cultural foundation of the nation and those of Irish lineage today proudly sing support for Ireland; and

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, Spokane is among the top 10 major cities in the United States in terms of percentage of residents with Irish ancestry; and

WHEREAS, We celebrate the establishment of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus with its aim of fostering and strengthening the longstanding relationship that exists between the United States of America and Ireland to the mutual benefit of both countries with leadership in all 50 states; and

WHEREAS, The songs of Ireland are the tragic songs of love and the joyous songs of battle: The nostalgic reveries of the sorrows and the glories that are the Emerald Isle; and the lamentations of life's myriad travails and the odes to joy and the life eternal;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives commemorate the celebration of the Feast of Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk is directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Senator Mark Daly, chair of the Senate of Ireland.