How the Irish helped shape Philadelphia — and the United States
Remembering at 250: Irish workers built Pennsylvania’s canals and railroads. Irish families shaped neighborhoods and became part of the fabric of Philadelphia, writes Ireland’s ambassador to the U.S.
Philadelphia was the first place many early Irish immigrants saw when their long journey ended. The Port of Philadelphia was the gateway to their new world.
Between 1717 and 1775 alone, a staggering quarter of a million immigrants arrived from Ireland to the 13 colonies.
By 1776, those same immigrants were deeply involved in the creation of the new republic. Three of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, signed in Philadelphia on the Fourth of July, were born on the island of Ireland. Another Irishman, John Dunlap of County Tyrone, printed the first copies of that declaration on the night of July Fourth.
Irish people continued to shape the American Experiment from those earliest days. Nowhere is that story more evident than in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, now home to more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians who proudly claim Irish heritage.
Irish workers built Pennsylvania’s canals, its railroads, and its industries. Irish families helped shape its neighborhoods and the civic institutions where they found their home. Irish solidarity and resilience became part of the life fabric of Philadelphia.
The exchange was truly two-way: Ireland’s journey toward independence was inspired by the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Our 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic recognized the support of Ireland’s “exiled children in America.”
This transatlantic exchange of ideas continues to define our relationship and enrich our two countries to this day.
Ireland and the United States now share one of the world’s most dynamic relationships: economically, culturally, and politically. Across the 50 states, more than 780 Irish-founded companies employ over 200,000 people, bringing skills, entrepreneurship, and a global outlook to local economies nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, 29 Irish companies support 12,000 jobs. Foreign direct investment from Ireland into Pennsylvania is growing across critical sectors, including pharmaceuticals, business services, and industrial equipment.
More than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians claim Irish heritage.
Today, the United States remains Ireland’s largest trading partner and its leading source of investment. American companies have long recognized Ireland as a trusted partner in Europe and a place where global businesses can thrive, innovate, and access the barrier-free single European Union market of 450 million consumers.
As Ireland’s 19th ambassador to the United States, I am proud to represent a country whose people have helped shape this nation for 250 years.
My hope is that America 250 will not only commemorate the past but will inspire the future, encouraging new generations of Irish Americans to continue to weave this rich transatlantic tapestry.
Geraldine Byrne Nason is the ambassador of Ireland to the United States.