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For many of us in the Pioneer Valley who proudly celebrate our Irish heritage not just during St. Patrick’s weekend, but throughout the year, we have fond memories of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club in Springfield. Named in honor of the renowned Irish poet, journalist, and Fenian revolutionary from County Meath, the JBO, as it is affectionately known, has long been a gathering place for those who keep the Irish tradition close to their heart. From its home on Progress Avenue, the club has been home to countless céilís, traditional music and dance sessions, and celebrations of St. Patrick since its founding in 1880. The JBO’s enduring mission is to preserve and promote Irish heritage throughout western Massachusetts. Much like its namesake, it remains a force in the conversation about Irish unity.

Upon his arrival to the United States in 1869, O’Reilly quickly took to a career in journalism, working as a reporter for the Boston Pilot. By 1874, he was the Editor and two years later a co-owner. His writings reached hundreds of thousands of Americans – many of whom were Irish immigrants – and provided timely news on the political developments in Ireland. O’Reilly published some of the earliest pieces promoting an independent Ireland and non-sectarian principles that would become central to the movement for an Irish Republic. Through his work, many regarded the young activist as the most important Irish American of his time. In 1890, O’Reilly unexpectedly passed at the age of 46. While he never witnessed Irish independence, his work certainly laid the foundation of the movement.

Shortly after O’Reilly’s death, Éamon de Valera traveled to the United States in 1919 to raise funds and rally Irish American support during the War of Independence. Not yet 40 years old, he was the incumbent President of Dáil Éireann. His stops included Springfield, where he spoke at what is now Symphony Hall, and Boston, where he memorably addressed a crowd of more than 50,000 people at Fenway Park. The American-born statesman’s message was simple: “We seek an Ireland whole and free, not broken by foreign design.”  And the people of Massachusetts were at the forefront of this debate.

Like O’Reilly before him, de Valera’s words struck a chord with the Diaspora.  Irish America sent $10 million – the equivalent of more than $160 million today – to assist in the struggle for Irish independence. With the help of Ireland’s “exiled children in America,” that goal was realized in 1921 when representatives from the Irish and British governments signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty, granting the southern 26 counties of Ireland almost complete independence. As de Valera said at the time, “The part which American friendship played in helping us to win the freedom we enjoy in this part of Ireland has been gratefully recognized and acknowledged by our people.” Three years later, Timothy Smiddy, a son of County Cork, presented his Ambassadorial credentials to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, officially establishing diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland.

For the next century, that special relationship between our two great nations would deepen and grow exponentially. It was on display again last week in Washington, D.C., where Irish leader Micheál Martin noted “The enduring bonds between Ireland and the US have been affirmed and celebrated.” Spanning 17 U.S. Presidents and 15 Taoiseachs, the historic friendship between the United States and Ireland has been unwavering – a powerful testament to our strong ancestral ties and shared values. It was this friendship, and the leadership of the Congressional Friends of Ireland, that helped bring about one of our greatest achievements: ensuring no return to a hard border.

Today, I am proud to welcome a native of County Louth, Ireland’s current Ambassador to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason, to Hampden County. Ambassador Byrne Nason represents the new and modern Ireland, and her visit reminds us that Ireland always sends their best diplomats to the United States. She will march with me in the 72^nd Annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade where the enduring spirit of John Boyle O’Reilly and Eamon de Valera lives on, and where the generational support for Irish reunification has never wavered.

As Taoiseach Micheál Martin has suggested in his “Shared Island Initiative,” it is time for people north and south to find ways of working and living together in the place they call home. Judging by the latest polls on the island of Ireland, the majority of Irish people strongly agree. As Chairman of the Friends of Ireland Caucus in the United States Congress, it is a conversation that I intend to lead here in America. I believe the time is right.

In his poem, “Rules of the Road,” John Boyle O’Reilly remarked, “Be true to your word and your work and your friend.” For more than a century, the United States and Ireland have been the closest of friends. As we look to the future, one that could include a robust debate on the constitutional question, I am confident that our historical bonds will only grow. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!