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.
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 Ireland-U.S. Council’s 2025 Saint Patrick’s Lunch
Friday March 14th, 2025
The Ireland-U.S. Council’s 2025 Saint Patrick’s Lunch was held at The Metropolitan Club. The Council’s Award for Excellence in Public Service was presented to Paul McCormack, a former New City Police Department Captain who lost his eyesight during rescue and recovery operations following the September 11 terrorist attacks at World Trade Center site. Council President Tom Higgins made the presentation during the sold-out event.
The 61st Annual Dinner of The Ireland-U.S. Council
held in New York on November 14th, 2024
The Ireland-U.S. Council’s Award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap in New York at the organization’s 61st Annual Dinner. Seen at the Award presentation were Jim Adrian (left) Council National Secretary with Aengus Kelly and Tom Higgins, Council President. The sold-out event was staged at The Metropolitan Club on Fifth Avenue in New York on Thursday November 14, 2024.
The 2024 Ireland-U.S. Council Golf Day in Ireland
held under sunny skies and sponsored by
Northern Trust and
Aer Lingus
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
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
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.
Midsummer Gala Dinner
Dublin
Friday, June 27, 2025
Saint Patrick's Hall
Dublin Castle
Cocktails: 6:30pm
Dinner: 7:30pm
Black Tie
Award for Excellence in International Business
Presented to:
Elaine Fox, TikTok
Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented to:
William J. McCluskey, Investment Banker
Guest of Honor
Timmy Dooley T.D.
Cabinet Minister
Government of Ireland
Member: €225
Guest \ Non-Member : €300
Full Page ad in Dinner Program: €750
Two Premium Seats: €1,500
includes Full Page Ad in Dinner Program
Shamrock Package: €5,000
Choice table of 10, plus full page ad in dinner program.
Harp Sponsor Package: €7,500
- Premium table of 10
- Full page ad in program
- Logo on screen during dinner
- Logo on all signage and other materials
- Logo on Council website with other Patron sponsors
- President's recognition from podium
Download full invite (PDF)
Book and Pay Online:
Council Golf Day in Ireland
Friday, September 12, 2025
Dún Laoghaire Golf Club,
Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Fall Corporate Lunch
Friday, October 3, 2025
InterContinental Hotel
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
62nd Annual Dinner
New York
Thursday, November 13th, 2025
The Metropolitan Club
New York City
Cocktail Reception 6:30pm
Dinner 7:30pm
Black Tie
Emerald Sponsor Package: $50,000
• Premium placement for dinner table, 10 seats
• Two full-page color ads in the Council’s Annual Report
• Company logo on all plasma TV screens during the dinner
• Company logo and ad on Council website thru 2026
• Company logo on all signage & other materials
• President’s recognition from the podium
Shamrock Sponsor Package: $25,000
• Preferred placement for dinner table, 10 seats
• Full-page color ad in the Council’s Annual Report
• Company logo on all plasma TV screens during the dinner
• Company logo and ad on Council website thru 2026
• Company logo on all signage & other materials
• President’s recognition from the podium
Harp Sponsor Package: $15,000
• Superior placement for dinner table, 10 seats
• Full-page color ad in the Council’s Annual Report
• Company logo on all plasma TV screens during the dinner
• Company logo and ad on Council website thru 2026
• Company logo on all signage & other materials
Patron Sponsor Package: $8,000
• Four seats to the Ireland-U.S. Council Annual Dinner
• Full-page color ad in the Council’s Annual Report
• Company logo and ad on Council website thru 2026
Annual Report Ad: $1,000
• Full-page color ad in the Council’s Annual Report
Individual Seat: $1,000
Download full invite (PDF)
Book and Pay Online:
Our Sponsors
A message from our 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
