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Forging Business Connections between America and the Emerald Isle since 1963


For over 50 years, The Ireland-U.S. Council has bridged the gap between the United States and Ireland by promoting business connections and fostering a strong community among our many members.

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Welcome to The Ireland-U.S. Council

Our mission is to build business links between America and Ireland. We aim to create impactful relationships through the organization's many programs and activities in both the United States and in the Emerald Isle. We value your interest in the mission of the Council and always welcome new members. Please contact us and we will be happy to tell you more.


The 2024 Ireland-U.S. Council Golf Day in Ireland

held under sunny skies and sponsored by

Northern Trust and Aer Lingus

two Ireland-U.S. council members with award recipient Dermot Desmond

The 2024 edition of the Ireland-U.S. Council Golf Day in Ireland was held under sunny skies on Friday, September 6 at Dún Laoghaire Golf Club, The highly-successful event was sponsored by Council member-companies Northern Trust and Aer Lingus. The members of the winning team from Dublin-based Saros Consulting, a Council member-company, were presented with a magnificent Basket of Cheer from Ireland-U.S. Council member-company Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling. Seen at the prize-giving were (from left) Trevor Koen, Justin Van der Spuy, Council Executive Director Billy Condon and Ken Greene.   


The Ireland-U.S. Council’s Saint Patrick’s Luncheon

The Ireland-U.S. Council held its Annual Saint Patrick’s Luncheon at The Metropolitan Club in New York City on Friday, March 15, 2024. This short video captures all the highlights of this ever popular event on our calendar.


The Ireland-U.S. Council presents its

2023 Award for Outstanding Achievement

two Ireland-U.S. council members with award recipient Dermot Desmond

The Ireland-U.S. Council’s 60th Annual Dinner was held at The Metropolitan Club in New York City on Thursday, November 9, 2023. The Council’s Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to David McCourt, Chairman and Founder of Granahan McCourt Capital and also Chairman & CEO of National Broadband Ireland. The Council’s Cúchulainn Award was presented to Northern Ireland entrepreneur Dr. Terry Cross OBE. Pictured at the Diamond Anniversary dinner (from left):  David McCourt; Tom Higgins, President of the Ireland-U.S. Council and Dr. Cross.

The Ireland-U.S. Council Midsummer Gala Dinner was held

at Saint Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle on June 30, 2023


The Ireland-U.S. Council Ireland-U.S. Council presents its 2022 Award for Outstanding Achievement

two Ireland-U.S. council members with award recipient Dermot Desmond

The Ireland-U.S. Council presented its Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2022 to Dermot Desmond, Chairman & CEO of Dublin-based International Investment & Underwriting to mark his notable success in business. The Award also heralded his important achievements in building bonds between America and Ireland. The Award was a centerpiece of the Council’s 59th Annual Dinner which was held at the Metropolitan Club in New York City on Thursday, November 10, 2022.


Seen at the presentation were Tom Higgins, Council President, Dermot Desmond and Denis O'Brien, Chairman of Digicel who made the podium introduction for the honoree.

Upcoming Events:


Download 2024 Calendar (PDF)


poster for Ireland-U.S. Council Golf Day in Ireland 2023

61st Annual Dinner

New York


Thursday, November 14, 2024


Sold Out


The Metropolitan Club

New York City


Cocktail Reception 6:30pm

Dinner 7:30pm


Individual Seat: $600

Emerald Sponsor Package: $25,000

Shamrock Sponsor Package: $20,000

Harp Sponsor Package: $15,000

Patron Sponsor Package: $6,000

Annual Report Ad: $1,000

Special Ireland Member Travel Package: €6,000

 Special Dinner Package (U.S. Members): $3,000


2024 Award for Outstanding Achievement

Aengus Kelly

Chief Executive - AerCap


Download 61st Annual Dinner Invite (PDF)


Book and Pay Online:

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Saint Patrick's Luncheon

Friday, March 14, 2025

The Metropolitan Club, New York City


Spring Corporate Lunch

Friday May 2, 2025

InterContinental Hotel

Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland

 

Midsummer Gala Dinner

Friday, June 27, 2025

Dublin Castle

Dublin, Ireland

 

Council Golf Day in Ireland

Friday, September 12, 2025

Dún Laoghaire Golf Club,

Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

 

62nd Annual Dinner of the Council

Thursday, November 13, 2025

The Metropolitan Club, New York City

A message from our President

Tom Higgins, council president

Tom Higgins
Council President

It was back in 1962 that, in preparation for the visit of President John F. Kennedy to Ireland the following year, two organizations were created as a measure to build institutional form around a structure to improve the relations between America and Ireland.

One was dedicated to cultural relations - the American Irish Foundation, which has since merged into the American Ireland Fund. Your Council was the other and was aimed at building business bonds between America and Ireland.

We cherish the shared commitments that connect us to our Council mission. During the past year, the Council has enjoyed outstanding support from members and from many benefactors, patrons and sponsors. On behalf of the Council's Board and the entire membership of the organization throughout the United States and in all parts of Ireland, we offer thanks for the support we continue to receive.

Tom Higgins
Ireland-U.S. Council President

Recent Council News

group photo of Ireland-US Council board members
03 Oct, 2022
The Ireland-U.S. Council's 2022 Golf Day was held at Dún Laoghaire Golf Club on the outskirts of Dublin on Friday, September 9. The event, which had not been staged since 2019 because of the Covid pandemic, was staged and enjoyed by the full-field contingent of members and their guests.
graphic advertising the midsummer dinner
28 Jul, 2022
We continue to make great strides in coming back from the pandemic interruption with a recent MidSummer Gala Dinner in Dublin Castle held on July 1, 2022. This short video report tells the story of the great event enjoyed by all.
board members with student award recipient
28 Jun, 2022
For the past two years, the pandemic has caused the cancellation of our annual Ireland-U.S. Council’s Student Work Experience Scholarships program. At an event in New York in early June hosted to celebrate its 90th Anniversary founding, CIE Tours International, a long-time supporter of the Council, offered an opportunity to piggy-back our 2022 scholarships event on their splendid evening occasion.

Council Programs

Student Work Experience Scholarships

The Ireland - U.S. Council Annual Student Work Experience Scholarship program is operated by the Council in which undergraduates from Irish Universities are assigned temporarily to work in American corporations. The Council also operates a program for post-graduate American students who work as management interns for companies in Ireland.

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Award For Outstanding Portraiture

The Ireland-U.S. Council Award for Outstanding Portraiture is an important part of the Ireland-U.S. Council’s program to support the Arts and Arts Education in Ireland. The esteemed award has been an important career marker for many of today’s successful portrait painters in Ireland and is presented in Ireland to an artist whose work is judged to be of outstanding merit.

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Award for Outstanding Achievement

The Ireland - U.S. Council each year presents its Award for Outstanding Achievement to an individual who has made a significant contribution to enhancing the economic relationships between the United States and Ireland. The annual Award marks notable and important achievements in building the business bonds and commercial connections between America and the Emerald Isle. The Award is the centerpiece of the Council’s Annual Dinner held at the Metropolitan Club in November in New York City.

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Creating connections since 1963

The Ireland-U.S. Council is the premier platform in the exciting and dynamic trans-Atlantic business universe connecting America and Ireland . This is one of the world’s most rapidly-expanding bilateral relationships embracing billions of dollars in trade, investment and tourism. Embrace connection today for expansion in the future—complete your member application today.

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