March 13, 2026
As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, Philadelphia finds itself at the center of the conversation. The city where the nation was founded is a natural place to reflect on the Revolutionary era, but it’s also a place where the story reaches beyond American borders. One of the strongest connections stretches across the Atlantic to Ireland, whose people, craftsmanship and ideas helped shape some of the earliest chapters of American history.
That relationship still runs deep in Philadelphia today. Irish culture has long been part of the city’s identity, from one of the nation’s oldest St. Patrick’s Day parades to the dance schools, community groups and neighborhood traditions that keep that heritage visible year-round. Generations of Irish-American families have helped shape the city’s character, including the family of actress Grace Kelly, whose parents traced their roots to County Mayo.
The upcoming America 250 milestone offers Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians a chance to explore that shared history in a new way. In 2026, Ireland will host exhibitions, heritage experiences and cultural programs highlighting its connections to the United States, including Philadelphia, creating a timely opportunity for travelers to see where many of those stories began.
Bluegrass Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, County Tyrone
Provided Courtesy/Tourism Ireland
Long before the Declaration of Independence was printed in Philadelphia, the skills needed to produce that revolutionary document were learned in Strabane, County Tyrone. It was there that John Dunlap, the printer who would later produce the first broadside copies of the Declaration, trained as a young apprentice.
Dunlap wasn’t the only Irish connection to America’s founding. Several signers of the Declaration, including Charles Carroll, Thomas McKean, George Taylor and James Smith, were either born in Ireland or descended from Irish families. Each helped shape the political and moral foundations of the new nation, reflecting the long-standing ties between Irish heritage and American civic life.
Those connections continued well beyond the Revolutionary era. One of the most prominent figures linking Ireland and Philadelphia was Commodore John Barry, often called the father of the U.S. Navy. Born in County Wexford, Barry commanded one of America’s first naval warships and is honored today just steps from Independence Hall.
The connection also runs through generations of migration. Large waves of Scots-Irish settlers from Ulster made their way to Pennsylvania in the 18th century, helping shape the region’s early identity and frontier culture. Visitors can explore this chapter of history firsthand at the Ulster American Folk Park, which vividly traces the journey from Ulster to the New World.
Ulster American Folk Park
More than two million people emigrated from Ireland to America during the 1700s and 1800s, influencing early colonial life and playing an important role in the Revolutionary era. Many of those emigrants were Scots-Irish settlers who went on to become pioneers, soldiers and political leaders in the young republic. Today, more than 31 million Americans claim Irish ancestry, making it one of the largest heritage groups in the country.
For Philadelphians interested in exploring their roots or connecting with a broader heritage story, Ireland offers experiences that bring that shared past to life.
In Dublin, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum traces the journeys of millions of Irish people who left their homeland and helped shape communities around the world, including Philadelphia. Along the southeastern coast in New Ross, the Dunbrody Famine Ship offers a powerful look at the difficult voyages taken by families fleeing the Great Famine.
Back in Dublin, the Jeanie Johnston, a replica famine ship that crossed the Atlantic 16 times without losing a single passenger, tells a rare story of survival during a perilous era of migration.
Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship
Provided Courtesy/Tourism Ireland
Nonstop flights from both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh make it simple for travelers across the state to experience Ireland’s history, landscapes and culture firsthand.
For a glimpse of what the island has to offer, watch the video Ireland Goes Beyond, embedded below. It captures the scenery, atmosphere and sense of connection that make Ireland such a meaningful place to visit, especially during milestone moments like America 250.
