The Congressional Friends of Ireland, or Friends of Ireland, is an organization in the United States Congress that was founded in 1981 by Irish-American politicians Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Daniel Moynihan and House Speaker Tip O'Neill to support initiatives for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.Providing a Leading Voice for Human Rights and Democracy around the Globe TedKennedy.org. Retrieved: 2012-04-27.

"The Friends of Ireland is a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives opposed to violence and terrorism in Northern Ireland and dedicated to maintaining a United States policy that promotes a just, lasting, and peaceful settlement of the conflict that has cost more than 3,100 lives over the past quarter century", according to a statement by Kennedy in the Senate on 22 March 1994. Congressional Record 103rd Congress (1993-1994), statement by Ted Kennedy, 1994-03-22.

Representative Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts) is the current chair of this bipartisan group of senators and representatives. In chapter 9 of his book "Irish America and the Ulster Conflict 1968-1995," (Blackstaff Press, 1995) Andrew J. Wilson writes that the Congressional Friends of Ireland played a significant role in the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985.

Prior to the formation of the caucus in 1981, the phrase "Congressional friends of Ireland" was in use in the United States as early as 1920 when The New York Times wrote, "An editorial article in the current issue of The Freeman gives the Congressional friends of Ireland and the Irish vote a gentle but somewhat disconcerting prod."Ireland and Congress New York Times, 11 April 1920.

The group has been involved with several ceremonial luncheons and receptions for Irish and United States political leaders. Speaker of the House John Boehner, 2012-03-20.Remarks at a Saint Patrick's Day Luncheon U.S. Government Printing Office, 1999-03-17. "The President spoke at approximately noon in Room H207 of the Rayburn House Office Building."Remarks by the President at Friends of Ireland Luncheon -- U.S. Capitol The White House, 2012-03-20.Remarks by President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Prime Minister Kenny of Ireland at St. Patrick's Day Reception The White House, 2012-03-21.

Membership In the 119th Congress, the membership is as follows:

Leadership

Jahana Hayes (D-CT) Richard Neal (D-MA) Mike Kelly (R-PA)

Members

Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI) Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO) Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY) Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA) Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY)

References

Further reading The Congressional Friends of Ireland and the Anglo-Irish Agreement, 1981-1985, by Andrew J. Wilson