Irish Ready for U.S. 250th Birthday
The Irish will be right in the middle of America’s 250th birthday next July – which technically will. be known as the U.S. Semiquincentennial.
In Philadelphia – the birthplace of American freedom – the Museum of the American Revolution will feature the Easter Rising in Dublin as part of a new exhibition about the Declaration of Independence’s worldwide impact.
Entitled “The Declaration’s Journey,” the new exhibit – which the museum calls its “most ambitious undertaking since its opening in 2017” – runs from October 2025 to January 2027, and looks at nearly 20 nations “whose independence movements were inspired by the words of (America’s) founding document, as well as stories of how Americans applied and grappled with these ideals from the 18th century through to today.”
Artifacts include a stone – on loan from the National Museum of Ireland – from the General Post Office where Patrick Pearse read out the Proclamation of the Irish Republic on April 24, 1916, inciting the Easter Rising.
“We are all a part of the American story,” said Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, President and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution. “As Philadelphia prepares to welcome the world in 2026 through exciting athletic, history, and cultural events, the Museum of the American Revolution through The Declaration’s Journey will provide an experience that will resonate with anyone who walks through our doors.”
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has also announced a series of initiatives, including a ‘special status’ designation for Northern Ireland as part of the America250 program.
“The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and The U.S. National Archives will come together to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial,” said Lyons during a recent stop in Washington D.C.
“Northern Ireland and the U.S. have deep rooted connections and we’re looking forward to exploring those connections together.”
The Declaration itself was printed by Strabane native John Dunlap while the U.S. Great Seal was designed by Ulsterman Charles Thomson.
Then there’s the recently-formed IrishAmerica250, a group dedicated to “recognizing and celebrating the profound role Irish Americans have played in shaping the United States over the past 250 years,” and pointing to the earliest known use of the term United States of America in 1776 –“credited to a letter written by General Stephen Moylan, born in Cork, Ireland, who served as an aide-de-camp to George Washington.”
Also, the president of National Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH) Mary Ann Lubinsky has named Kathleen Diulus and Marilyn Madigan to make sure the contributions of Irish American women are noted.
“Next year will be the Semiquincentennial of the United States,” an LAOH statement reads. “We remember the words spoken to John Adams by his wife Abigail…. ‘Don’t forget the ladies.’ And as an Irish women’s organization, it is our responsibility to remember and honor the Irish born and those of Irish descent that have contributed to our great nation over the past 250 years.”
A new Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was organized this past summer and based in Dublin, The Hercules Mulligan chapter honoring, the Irish born tailor and spy. While outwardly running a popular business catering to British officers in New York, Mulligan secretly collected intelligence and passed it to George Washington, twice saving his life by allowing him to evade being captured. He is prominently featured in the Broadway musical Hamilton.
In November, celebrated filmmaker Ken Burns will release a new six-part, 12-hour documentary entitled The American Revolution, which will cover the independence movement from many perspectives – and will feature a host of celebrity guest voices, including Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson.
Finally, among the many new Revolutionary War books, Richard Bell’s The American Revolution and the Fate of The World features.
The “chapter on Erin” covers the complex Irish perspectives on the war, the significant presence of Irish immigrants in the Continental Army, the influence of American revolutionary ideas on Irish politics, and the economic turmoil the conflict caused in Ireland.
– Tom Deignan
ST. Pat’s Armagh Bears the wear and tear of time
St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral rises above Armagh, a landmark of Irish faith and architectural grandeur. For generations, it has served not only as the seat of the Catholic Archbishop – the Primate of All Ireland – but also as a sanctuary for worship, reflection, and community. Today, this revered monument once again calls upon the generosity of those who hold Ireland in their hearts.
Its construction was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of the Irish diaspora. Irish Americans, in particular, sent donations from across the United States to help create this house of worship. Built between 1840 and 1904, the Cathedral is a masterpiece of majestic architecture, including its twin spires and ornate mosaics, and its stunning interior, which features artistic stained-glass windows, and the impressive grounds with views of the city.
But like all great monuments, the Cathedral now bears the wear and strain of time, and a fundraising effort reaching out to the diaspora is underway.
Today, the Cathedral faces urgent and costly repairs, including:
- Addressing rainwater damage at the eaves
- Restoring and treating exterior drainpipes
- Replacing outdated lightning conductors
- Improving ventilation in public areas
- Refurbishing the Cathedral’s majestic pipe organ
- Repairing the front steps and entrance paving.
With annual upkeep now exceeding £150,000, the burden is unsustainable for a parish reliant on weekly collections and limited reserves. Put simply, the Cathedral cannot meet these demands alone.
Just as Irish Americans helped build this sacred place over 180 years ago, we now invite the Irish abroad – and especially those in the U.S.– to help preserve it. This is not merely a fundraising appeal. It is a call to protect something sacred,
to honor history, and to ensure that this beacon of Irish Catholic heritage continues to shine.
If your ancestors gave to build it, give now to preserve it. Whether your roots lie in Armagh or Antrim, Mayo or Manhattan, this Cathedral is your inheritance. Claim it.
– Enda Cullen
You can become a Friend of the Cathedral by making a one-time or monthly donation. For donors in the U.S., please contact the Parish Office for giving options: https://www.armaghparish.net/st-patricks-cathedral-fundraising-campaign/
Pursuit of Justice Awardee In California
Founded in 1989, the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) is the first law center in the state dedicated solely to addressing the comprehensive and unique legal needs of women and girls.
Jenifer McKenna, recipient of the 2025 Pursuit of Justice Award, spoke with Beth Gallagher about the founding of CWLC and its ongoing work that continues today.
How did CWLC come about?
I was the Executive Director of the Women Lawyers Association of LA, a professional association of women lawyers. We would often get calls from women and other organizations seeking help in addressing sex discrimination, lack of childcare, discrimination in sports and education, domestic violence, sexual violence, and reproductive rights. It became evident that there was no single organization working across these issues.
My friend, Abby Leibman, an attorney, and I decided to start an organization, and we invited Sheila Kuehl, who eventually became a member of the California State Assembly and a State Senator, to join us. The three of us became a core group that conceptualized and then founded the California Women’s Law Center in 1989.
What issues did you most want to work on?
We focused on policy development, litigation, and public education, as well as educating policymakers, building coalitions, engaging the media, and conducting research to address legal issues that were affecting women and girls in the state.
Having three people dividing up that range of strategies was really effective. Abby and Sheila had niche expertise as lawyers, and my expertise was in policy development and coalition work.
Has the core mission changed over the years?
CWLC goals and strategies remain the same. We continue to draw on multiple strategies and a range of expertise to address the needs of women.
Currently, I work with CWLC on the challenge that the Crisis Pregnancy Center industry presents in undermining women’s reproductive rights and abortion access in this country. California remains a bellwether state for work on all those fronts. What we do will have an impact nationwide. I also have relationships with reproductive rights advocates in Ireland and in Northern Ireland, where they’ve been making real progress, as we’ve been regressing.
– Beth Gallagher
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the Fall 2025 issue of Irish America.
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