St Patrick's Day Message by William T. Cosgrave to the United States of America
(7/20) (Copy)

I am glad to have the opportunity of sending a St. Patrick's Day Message of greeting through the medium of the International News Service to our friends in America.

The people of Ireland are mindful of the unfailing help and encouragement they have received from many generations of Americans. Irishmen who found new homes on American soil learned to appreciate there the blessings of political Liberty. While they kept faith with their new citizenship they gave moral and material support to the National struggle at home, where their kinsfolk were battling for Irish Freedom. On this St. Patrick's Day the people of the Irish Free State are as ever proud to acknowledge the debt which they owe to Irish blood and Irish sympathies in America.

The numerous readers of The International News Service journals will, I feel sure, be glad to learn that the Irish Free State has made good progress in all spheres of national life. Her exports, which consist principally of agricultural products, have escaped to an appreciable extent the adversity which has overtaken world prices in the commodities of other industries. Her adverse balance of visible trade has continued to fall for the past four years and in 1930 has fallen 18% from the previous year. The establishment of new industrial enterprises such as the Beet Sugar Manufactury at Carlow, and a number of Tobacco, Jam, Confectionery and Clothing Factories has given new sources of employment. More then one hundred new factories in all have been opened since the State first functioned, and there has been a steady demand for home products. The resultant effect on the unemployment situation has been such that in the face of world wide economic depression unemployment in the Irish Free State in 1930 has fortunately not increased. Since 1922 twenty four thousand new houses have been constructed in which the State has judiciously assisted private enterprise. In the matter of State credit it is in the knowledge of American men of business that Irish Free State Government Securities are steady and at a premium in Wall Street.

The Ports of Cobh and Galway continue to see thousands of American citizens visiting our shores each year. The improvements which have taken place in rail and motor transport, and in the widening and resurfacing of roads render more accessible the holiday attractions of Irish scenery and sport. The fifteenth century of the coming of St. Patrick is being signally honoured by the celebration of the Eucharistic Congress here in Dublin, elaborate preparations for which are now in progress. It will be a special pleasure to welcome our kinsfolk and the many friends of Ireland from the United States of America who will come to participate in these exceptional events.