US President Joe Biden has nominated Irish-American lawyer Claire Cronin as the next Ambassador to Ireland.
Ms Cronin was a supporter of the president when he announced his run for office.
The trained lawyer was a leading fundraiser for the former vice-president in the early days of his White House campaign.
A senior Democratic lawmaker in the Massachusetts state house, Ms Cronin was the first female majority leader of the state legislature
The nomination will now be sent to the US Senate where a confirmation hearing will take place. Senators will then vote on her appointment.
Ms Cronin, who had been seen as the frontrunner, said she was deeply honoured "especially given the president's and my own Irish roots".
"If confirmed, I look forward to serving as ambassador and working with our partners in Ireland on both the challenges and opportunities ahead of us," she added.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney welcomed the nomination.
"The early nomination of a resident US Ambassador to Ireland reflects the extraordinary strength and depth of the relationship that exists between our two countries," he added.
"Our people-to-people links are unparalleled with approximately 30 million Americans claiming Irish heritage, including president Joe Biden. The US is one of our most important trading and investment partners, and it remains an unfailing supporter of the Northern Ireland peace process and Good Friday Agreement."
Democratic Congressman Richard Neal said he was delighted.
Once confirmed by the Senate, he said, Ms Cronin would play a significant in role "in helping to strengthen the bonds between the United States and Ireland".
"This is an important posting and that is why I look forward to working closely with the ambassador-designate on a range of issues to reinforce and expand our unique transatlantic partnership," he said.
The White House last week named nine ambassador picks for countries including Mexico, Israel, Sri Lanka and Paraguay.
It remains unclear whether or not President Biden will name a US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland.
Several members of the US Congress last month wrote to the president calling on him to appoint a Northern Ireland Envoy.
