IrishAmerica250 is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the profound role Irish Americans have played in shaping the United States over the past 250 years.
History
From the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the present day, Irish heritage is deeply woven into the fabric of American democracy and culture.
The earliest known use of the term “United States of America” in 1776 is credited to a letter written by General Stephen Moylan, born in Cork, Ireland, who served as an aide-de-camp to George Washington. Over the centuries, Irish Americans have built the nation, defended the Union, led political movements, and organized labor unions to historic victories. Irish Americans established great institutions of higher learning and have shaped American political leadership—from Speakers of the House like John McCormick and Tip O’Neill to numerous U.S. Presidents who proudly claim Irish heritage.
Irish Americans have also enriched the arts, literature, film, music, scholarship, and sports. Many have been honored with the Medal of Honor and have led U.S. armed forces. Yet, our history is complex and includes darker chapters. IrishAmerica250 is committed to telling this full story—celebrating unsung heroes while setting the record straight.
In recent months, we have engaged with the Irish government, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the America250 Commission to build a collaborative and inclusive commemorative effort. We are consulting historians on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure our narrative is accurate and meaningful. Our activities will be expansive, reflecting the richness of Irish American contributions.
We are particularly keen to tell the story of the Ulster Scots, religious dissidents, who fled Northern Ireland in the early 1700’s and played a significant role in writing the Declaration of Independence and fighting for the Revolution. We are an inclusive, bipartisan and nationwide effort to acknowledge the strength and resilience of our emigrant forebears, who over 250 years dedicated themselves to building the United States from strength to strength.
We are working with Irish community and culture centers all over America to prepare for the 250th Anniversary. The Irish were there at the beginning of the birth of the nation. We hope to use this opportunity to pass on our culture and values to the next generation to sustain our democracy. We are an established LLC in Maryland and all funds donated are tax-deductible.
Together, we will celebrate the legacy, culture, and spirit of Irish America.
Founders and Directors
Irish America 250 is a pro bono initiative dedicated to honoring and celebrating the enduring legacy of Irish contributions to American history and culture. The project is made possible through the generous donation of time, expertise, and resources by its Directors, who serve without compensation in support of this mission.
- Kevin Sullivan, CEO and Chair
- Morgan O’Sullivan, Vice Chair
- Hilary Beirne, Greater New York, Irish–US Relations
- Noreen Bowden, Communications Director
- Susan Davis, Counselor
- Prof. Darragh Gannon, Georgetown University Global Irish Studies, Lead Historian
- Sean O’Dowd, Treasurer
- James Gaffey, The South and the Scots Irish
- Bobby Cunningham, Government Relations
- Chris Isleib, Retired Navy Captain: Liaison to U.S. Armed Forces and America 250 Commission
- Ruadhán Byron, Marketing Director
- Robert Leigh, Lead Graphic Designer
- Michelle O’Mahony, History Consultant & Communications Director in Ireland
- Owen Kirby, Outreach Director
National Committee
- Brian G. Andersson — Former Commissioner, NYC Dept. of Records. Historian, Genealogist.
- Bob Arnold, Jr. — U.S.S. Patrick Gallagher, Commissioning Committee
- Dennis Browlee — Founder and Chairman of the African American Irish Diaspora Network
- Keith Carney — President FedNet. Washington D.C.
- John Connorton — National Committee on American Foreign Policy
- Claire Cronin — Former Ambassador to Ireland
- Kimberly Cowell Meyers — Vice Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee to Protect the GFA
- Martina Curtin — President of the Irish Cultural Center of Greater Boston
- Susan Davis — President of Susan Davis International, Co-Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee to Protect the GFA
- Dan Dennehy — Council for American Irish Relations
- Paula J. Dobriansky — Ambassador, Harvard Kennedy School
- Tom Elmore — Author, South Carolina Humanities
- Susan Eliot — National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCTAF)
- John Feerick — Former Dean of Fordham Law School
- John Feehery — Recently appointed by the Trump Administration to be the alternate observer to the International Fund for Ireland
- John Fitzpatrick — President and CEO of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group
- Martin Flaherty — Fordham Law School and Princeton University
- James W. Flannery — Artist and scholar, Prof. Emeritus, Emory University
- Theresa Flanagan Murtagh — President of the Friendly Sons and Daughters of Saint Patrick (1771), Philadelphia
- Catriona Frotrell — President and CEO, Ireland Fund
- Brendan Fay — Founder of the Lavender & Green Alliance
- Jackie Gilna — Founder and CEO, We Are Global Irish
- Niamh Hamill — Institute for Studies Abroad, Donegal
- Joe Kennedy III — Former Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs
- Dennis M. Lucey — VP AKIMA and Co-Chair of the American Ireland Fund National Gala
- Marilyn Madigan — Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
- Larry McCarthy — Immediate past president of the GAA
- Turlough McConnell — McConnell Communications
- Alice McDermott — Award-winning novelist and playwright
- Marty Meehan — Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts system
- Duncan Morrow — Ulster University
- Chris Moser — Professor Emeritus, Georgia State University, expert on the history of the Scots Irish
- Kevin Charles Murray — Frost Brown Todd, Senior Partner, Indianapolis
- James Normile — Chairman of the American Irish Historical Society
- Kevin O’Malley — Former Ambassador to Ireland
- Martin O’Malley — Former Governor of Maryland
- Niall O’Dowd — Founder and publisher of Irish America, Irish Central, and author
- Stella O’Leary — Former U.S. representative to the IFI
- Susan O’Neill — American Ireland Fund
- Tom P. O’Neill III — O’Neill and Associates, Boston
- Micheal O’Siadhail — “The Five Quintets cements his status as arguably Ireland’s greatest living poet”
- Sean Pender — President of the AOH
- Michael Quinlin — Co-Founder Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA)
- Ted Smyth — President Advisory Board, Glucksman Ireland House for Irish Studies, NYU
- Mary Sugrue — President and CEO, Irish American Partnership
- James P. Tierney — Historian, Fighting Irish 69th Division
- Mark H. Tuohey — Advisor to the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland
- Terence Winch — Winner of the American Book Award (1985) and co-editor of The Best American Poetry of 2025
- Carol Wheeler — Founder of the Washington Ireland Program
Principles
- To ensure Irish America’s contribution to our nation’s democracy is fully recognized during the Semiquincentennial celebrations.
- To leverage Irish America’s unique experience and influence to support transatlantic ties and promote democratic values on both sides of the Atlantic. Fostering continued bipartisan support for the Good Friday Agreement and contributing to ongoing discussions on Irish unity, police reform, and the advancement of a Bill of Rights in Northern Ireland.
- To honor unsung Irish American heroes from the Revolutionary era and throughout the centuries – examples of excellence and dignity in fields such as labor, literature, democracy, law, business, religion, sports, and military valor.
- To renew and re-energize Irish America by engaging a new generation of young Irish American leaders, including collaboration with the American Irish State Legislative Caucus (AISLC).
- To deepen the understanding of Irish America and its rich heritage among the broader public in both Ireland and the U.S.
- To act as a showcase for Irish music, film, literature, and culture.
- To support new energy and initiatives in Irish Studies programs.
- To recognize how Irish America has sustained Ireland over the centuries – through the Great Hunger, the fight for Independence, the Good Friday Agreement – and how together our two nations can advance democracy.
- To view Irish America through the lens of other communities, including Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos, and LGBTQ+, while acknowledging past wrongs and advancing intercommunity relations.
- And, lastly, for the craic!