Bridging the Atlantic VII

Georgetown University’s Global Irish Studies Initiative, in association with the BMW Center for German and European Studies, the Embassy of Ireland, the Clinton Institute for American Studies at University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, and the Northern Ireland Bureau, presented:

Bridging the Atlantic VII: Ireland and America at 250

Featuring a keynote address by Helen McEntee T.D., the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland.

This conference took place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at the Georgetown University Capitol Campus.

Marking 250 years since the American Revolution, the 7th annual “Bridging the Atlantic” conference had as its focus US-Irish relations from 1776 to the present. With discussions on Irish-American social history; revolutionary politics in 1776 and after; 21st-century Irish-American politics; and Irish-American culture, the conference took stock of the transatlantic relationship now and discussed its future. This year’s conference included a keynote address by Minister Helen McEntee, T.D., and anticipated the next decades and centuries of US-Irish relations.

“Bridging the Atlantic” is an ongoing series of conferences presented by Georgetown University’s Global Irish Studies Initiative and BMW Center for German and European Studies, in association with the Embassy of Ireland, the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, and the Northern Ireland Bureau.

Bridging the Atlantic VII Program

9:30 – 9:45 Opening Remarks by Cóilín Parsons (Director of Global Irish Studies, Georgetown University) and Richard Cushnie (Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau)

Opening Remarks + Panel 1

Opening Remarks: 00:04, America250 Panel: 17:22

9:45 – 10:45 America250: American Lives, Irish Legacies. Darragh Gannon (Georgetown University), Marion Casey (New York University), and Cian T. McMahon (University of Nevada, Las Vegas). Moderated by Caitríona Perry (BBC News)

11:00 – 12:00 Revolutionary Routes Across the Atlantic: 1776 and Beyond. Tim Meagher (Catholic University), Hannah Nolan (University of Maryland), and Chris Morash (Embassy of Ireland). Moderated by Tyler Anbinder (George Washington University)

13:15 – 14:15 The New Worlds of 21st Century Irish-America. Mary Murphy (Boston College), Kimberly Cowell-Meyers (American University), and Carolyn Gallagher (American University). Moderated by Liam Kennedy (University College Dublin)

14:45 – 15:15 Keynote Address. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, Helen McEntee T.D.

15:15 – 16:15 Re-imagining the ‘Green Wave’: Cultural Visions of Ireland in America. Diane Negra (University College Dublin), Mary Burke (University of Connecticut), and Philip McGowan (Queen’s University Belfast). Moderated by Cóilín Parsons (Georgetown University)

Closing Remarks + Re-imagining the ‘Green Wave’ Panel

Re-imagining the ‘Green Wave’: 00:04, Closing Remarks: 1:00:59

16:15 – 16:30 Closing Remarks. Ted Smyth (University College Dublin and New York University)

17:30 – 19:30 Reception for participants and audience at the Embassy of Ireland

Helen McEntee, Coilin Parsons, and Darragh Gannon

This event is free and open to the public. If you wish to make a donation to support the Global Irish Studies series of free lectures and seminars, it will be gratefully received. Please go to our Giving page to make a tax-free donation or click on the button below.

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