Eight of the original signatories of the Declaration of Independence had Irish heritage – in fact, five of them had family roots in Ulster.

It was Charles Thomson, born in County Londonderry, who designed the Great Seal of the United States.

Stephen Moylan, a proud Cork man and aide to George Washington, coined the phrase “United States of America”.

The Irish people and Choctaw Nation share an unwavering bond thanks to a gesture of extraordinary generosity. In 1847, the Choctaw Nation – still recovering from the Trail of Tears – raised money to support the Irish people during the Great Famine.

Hear how those old traditional tunes evolved in the new world at the Bluegrass Omagh Festival in the Ulster American Folk Park. Or experience the thrill of live music at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast or the Belfast Tattoo.

The distilling know-how carried across the Atlantic laid the foundations of America’s whiskey tradition. You can experience that potent mix of craft and innovation at Ireland’s whiskey distilleries.

Sport is a passion shared by Ireland and America, from the Friendship Four bringing American college ice hockey to Belfast to Gaelic games taking off across the States.

Over 31.5 million people in the United States claim Irish ancestry – that’s one in every 10 people.

23 US presidents have ancestral links to Ireland – 17 of them have connections to Northern Ireland, including Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt. You can explore these presidential roots at ancestral homesteads around the island. 

March is Irish-American Heritage Month AND St Patrick’s Day. This year, why not celebrate your Irish heritage with us – book your trip now.