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Taoiseach attends 1916 Commemoration events in Washington D.C.

The Taoiseach was in Washington this week to join US Vice President Joe Biden to formally open the “Ireland 100" Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. "Ireland 100: Celebrating a Century of Irish Arts and Culture"is a three-week long festival of Irish theatre, music, dance and literature and forms the centrepiece of the Government's programme over 250 events commemorating the 1916 Rising in the United States. 

Yesterday, the Taoiseach attended a number of official events to mark 1916 and the role of Irish-America in the Rising. In a very rare honour, the Taoiseach planted an Irish Oak tree on the grounds of the United States Congress at Capitol Hill, at a centenary ceremony.

He also visited the prestigious Library of Congress to view items from its collections related to the 1916 Rising. Later on Wednesday, the Taoiseach attended a reception in the Statuary Hall of the US Capitol Building to celebrate Ireland-US relations in this 100th anniversary of 1916. Congressional Leaders and Representatives were in attendance at the various events.

Read the Taoiseach's speech at the opening of 'Ireland 100' here. 

Read the Taoiseach's speech at the tree planting ceremony here. 

Read the Taoiseach's speech at the Library of Congress lunch here. 

Read the Taoiseach's speech at Statuary Hall here.