ENDA KENNY’S SPEECH last night at the shamrock ceremony received international focus as he spoke at length about Irish immigration.
The Taoiseach used the opportunity speak at length about the contribution of the Irish community in the United States, leading to the New York Times calling it a “lecture” for President Trump on immigration.
A clip of the speech, where Kenny refers to St Patrick as the patron saint of immigrants, posted online by Channel 4 News has gone viral.
“Ireland came to America, because deprived of liberty, opportunity, safety and even food itself, we believed,” he told the crowd.
Four decades before Lady Liberty lifted her lamp we were the wretched refuse on the teeming shore. We believed in the shelter of America, in the compassion of America, in the opportunity of America. We came and became Americans.
Watch the clip above for the Taoiseach’s speech in full.
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