Senate joint resolution NO. 7

INTRODUCED BY S. O'Brien, M. Cuffe, D. Salomon, S. Fitzpatrick, E. McClafferty, J. Esp, K. Regier, J. Welborn, L. Jones, G. Hertz, M. Lang, D. Zolnikov, D. Lenz, R. Lynch, A. Olsen, B. Brown, W. Curdy, M. Dunwell, J. Ellis, D. Hayman, F. Mandeville, T. Manzella, W. McKamey, S. Webber, S. Hinebauch, R. Fitzgerald, L. Sheldon-Galloway, D. Bartel, W. Sales, K. Abbott, E. Boldman, S. Morigeau, J. Small, R. Tempel, J. Fuller, D. Harvey, B. Gillespie, C. Keogh, K. Sullivan, P. Flowers, M. Fox, K. Zolnikov, S. Galloway, A. Buckley, K. Walsh, M. Bertoglio, M. Binkley, M. Thane, M. Yakawich, J. Lynch, J. Karlen, K. Bogner

By Request of the ****

A joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of montana commemorating St. Patrick's Day, celebrating the contributions of montanans of Irish heritage, and expressing the hope that the calm and cooperation that the 1998 Good Friday Agreement has engendered in Ireland will endure.

WHEREAS, Irish immigrants contributed significantly to the formation of the cultural and societal foundation of our nation; and

WHEREAS, 14 percent of Montanans are of Irish heritage, the highest percentage west of the Mississippi River and the 9th highest percentage nationally, and Irish Montanans have risen to leadership roles in many fields of endeavor; and

WHEREAS, Irish Americans remain proudly supportive of their ancestral homeland, and desire that Ireland be economically prosperous and at peace, and

WHEREAS, the lyrics and music of the songs of Ireland convey the tragedy and joy and the sorrows and glories of the Emerald Isle, and

WHEREAS, the American Irish State Legislators Caucus was recently established to foster and strengthen the longstanding cordial bilateral relationship between the United States and Ireland, for the continuing mutual benefit of both nations, and

WHEREAS, the 1998 Good Friday Agreement ushered in a new era of peace on the island of Ireland, and the calm and cooperation the agreement has engendered are of the utmost importance for future peaceful coexistence on the Emerald Isle, and

WHEREAS, annually, on St. Patrick's Day, Americans, regardless of their ancestral heritage, become Irish for the day and jointly celebrate their love of Ireland.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the Montana Legislature commemorates St. Patrick's Day, celebrates the contributions of Montanans of Irish heritage, and expresses the hope that the calm and cooperation that the 1998 Good Friday Agreement has engendered in Ireland will endure.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Montana Legislature desires to continue building the economic relationship between Montana and Ireland.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send a copy of this resolution to the National Co-Chairs of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus, to Senator Mark Daly, the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann (Chair of the Senate of Ireland), and to Deputy Seán Ó Fearghail, the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann (Chair of the Assembly of Ireland).