Washington Senate adopts resolution celebrating ties with Ireland

The Washington State Senate adopted Senate Resolution 8673 on Feb. 2, 2026, formally recognizing the long-standing partnership between Washington and Ireland and citing economic, cultural and technological cooperation.

Senator Orwell moved adoption of the resolution and told colleagues the two jurisdictions "have so much in common," highlighting shared histories, bilateral learning on clean energy and technology, and people-to-people ties. Senator Short also rose in support, saying the relationship allows Washington and Ireland to "learn from one another" and celebrates the states' commonalities.

The text read into the record affirms a relationship that includes an established connection between Galway and Seattle (noted as established in 1986), references combined job figures from clean-technology and related sectors, and cites transatlantic trade measured in the hundreds of millions to more than a billion dollars annually as part of the resolution's rationale. The secretary read the resolution before the Senate moved to the question; members answered "aye," and the presiding officer declared "the ayes have it," adopting the resolution.

After the vote, the presiding officer introduced the Honorable Mark Daly, chair of the Senate of the Republic of Ireland and senator for County Kerry, and Bernard Henzey, honorary consul general of Ireland in Seattle, and invited members to welcome the delegation. The Senate then adjourned until 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, the scheduled policy cutoff day.

The resolution is a formal expression of the Senate's support; no implementing action or funding was recorded in the session's proceedings.