The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has officially announced a scholarship scheme that will allow people from the Choctaw Native American community to study in Ireland.
In an announcement made in Oklahoma on Monday, Mr Varadkar confirmed that the the new programme will begin in the autumn of 2019.
Mr Varadkar who is on a seven day tour of the US, made the announcement as part of his visit to the community.
During his visit to the Choctaw Community, the Taoiseach thanked members for their generousity shown by their ancestors during the Irish famine.
The Choctaw community is held in high regard amongst Irish people, after its people who were living in poverty managed to collect money for the victims of the Great Famine in 1847.
In his speech to the community Mr Varadkar told the on looking forum that the Irish people would be forever grateful for their generousity shown by the Choctaw people during a difficult time when those suffering in the Great Famine were oppressed, abused, neglected and degraded by their colonial master,