Keynote Speech by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, at Villanova University Centre of Irish Studies’ America250 lecture series

Speech

Keynote Speech by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, at Villanova University Centre of Irish Studies' America250 lecture series

• From: Department of the Taoiseach

• Published on: 14 March 2026
• Last updated on: 14 March 2026

Congresswoman Scanlon, Ambassador Walsh, Provost Maggitti, President, Fr Donoghue, Villanova board members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I am very pleased to join you here in Villanova University. This is an institution with so many links to Ireland, not least through the Centre for Irish studies. I want to thank the Centre for this opportunity to speak to you.

Universities, their alumni, their scholarship, and their sporting endeavours - they create ties that bind.

They form an important part of that extraordinarily rich tapestry of connections that is the Irish American relationship.

When I was invited to speak to you, there were two things with particular resonance here in Villanova that I wanted to speak about: the power of sport in building international connections; and the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence was a major milestone for the United States of America, yet one shaped by so many Irish people.

It is no accident that, in this 250th year since it's signing, it is in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that I begin my St. Patrick's visit to the United States.

For many who left Ireland in the 18th century, it was to Pennsylvania they came. Their numbers included many Ulster Presbyterians, seeking opportunity and religious freedom.

The arriving Irish left their mark - literally - one need only look at the map of Pennsylvania.

There is Dublin and Derry. There is Donegal and Limerick. I would point to the absence of a Cork, but I am told that in west Philly there was once a Corktown!

And of course there is this historic university founded by Irish Augustinians.

The Irish who came here found opportunity. They found religious tolerance. Before long, many of them found revolution.

This year, across the United States and in Ireland, we reflect on that revolutionary epoch. A threshold in American history.

A movement that resonated across the globe and down the centuries.

A timely moment to reflect, as we consider the role that the Irish diaspora played in that foundational story and the building of America since.

Today, as we look to an ambitious future for Ireland and for America, I wish to take a moment to reflect on our history, the depth of Irish American connections and how they have shaped the last 250 years.

It was in Philadelphia that Wexford-born John Barry was plying his trade as a shipmaster when he answered the call of the Continental Congress.

His stellar service on the seas bolstered the rebels. It saw him later appointed the first commissioned officer of the U.S. Navy in 1794.

Not far from here in Bucks County, George Taylor, an Ulsterman who arrived in America as an indentured servant, rose to manage a prosperous ironworks.

A militia captain and Justice of the Peace, he was sent to Philadelphia for the Continental Congress and became one of three Irish-born signatories of the Declaration of Independence.

A second Irish-born signatory from Pennsylvania is James Smith. A lawyer and prominent critic of British rule, he was elected to the Continental Congress, but he arrived late. He made it just in time to sign the Declaration and seal his place in history.

Women also played a crucially important part in the revolutionary war, even if the historians of the day did not always capture their stories. Dublin-born Lydia Darragh is one example.

An important intelligence asset for the continental army, she spied on the British army and warned of impending attacks.

Margaret Cochran Corbin, or as you may know her - Captain Molly - is another. Born on the western frontier of Pennsylvania to Irish parents, she was one of the first women to serve in combat during the revolution and the first to receive a military pension for her efforts.

Many of you will know the name John Dunlap. Born in Tyrone, he made his mark as a printer in Philadelphia.

On the night of July 4th, 1776, his press gave voice to the revolution.

Working through the night, he printed the first copies of the Declaration. The Dunlap broadsides were dispatched across the thirteen colonies.

Stephen Moylan, a proud Corkman like myself, became aide to George Washington and the commander of the Continental cavalry.

It was Moylan who wrote the earliest recorded reference in writing to the famous name, the "United States of America."

The Secretary of the Continental Congress was Charles Thomson from Derry.

Much of America's early history flowed from the ink of his pen. Indeed, his name appears on the Declaration of Independence.

And it was his hand that designed the Great Seal of the United States, the iconic bald eagle with his head turned toward the olive branch of peace.

The timeless call for unity that adorns the great seal were his words. 'e pluribus unum','out of many, one'. Words which resonate to this very day.

That founding principle of America which inspired so many, not least one of Ireland's great peace makers, the late, great, John Hume.

He drew inspiration from these words.

As he said when reflecting on his Nobel Peace Prize - 'e pluribus unum, from many we are one… the essence of our unity is respect for our diversity. That's the essence of peace.'

Generation after generation, Irish people have drawn inspiration from these shores. Many continue to. These stories set a course.

What followed is a long tradition. Those called to proudly serve their new nation, whether in the blue uniform of the police, the red helmet of the fire department, or the fatigues of a military uniform.

By some estimates, more than 2,000 recipients of the American medal of honour are Irish by birth or by descent.

It is a tradition of service that continues all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, with no less than 23 U.S. Presidents being of Irish descent.

Of course, like any history, ours is marked by complexity. The liberty promised by the Declaration and the exaltation that all men are created equal sits side by side with the reality of slavery.

The bright promise of Irish emigration to America was shaped by a darkness - the profound suffering and devastation of An Gorta Mór, the great Irish famine, and all that was left behind.

That journey is beautifully commemorated at Philadelphia's Great Hunger Memorial which I visited this morning. On Spruce Street, in bronze, you can see the darkness left behind, and the optimism of arrival.

America was, is and will remain a land of opportunity. Those who left our shores in search of this opportunity would find Ireland's contemporary relationship with this country unrecognisable.

Our prosperous trade and business exchanges, the political links, and the cultural connections.

Today, Ireland is the fifth largest foreign investor in America. Just as many Irish professionals build their careers in American companies in Ireland, Irish companies employ more than 200,000 Americans.

Irish innovation is powering American companies, reducing their costs and making them more efficient. It is contributing to that Irish-US economic artery which generates prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. We want to protect and to develop this vital economic relationship.

Underlying all our links, are a firm foundation of connections between our people.

We see them here in Villanova, in the incredible academic and sporting connections with Ireland that have been forged here.

Sport is a transformational and unifying force. It brings people together. It drives connections between our people, generates economic activity, promotes tourism and develops political relationships.

We saw the impact of the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in Dublin's iconic Croke Park, something of a homecoming for many Irish Pennsylvanians, and for the Rooney family.

This was a great partnership with the NFL to promote flag football in Ireland and it generated 100 million euros for the Irish economy.

Just last month, my Government launched an ambitious sports diplomacy strategy.

We want to maximise the opportunities of sport, in particular with and in the United States. And to do so during the American 'Decade of Sport'.

When you host the FIFA World Cup this summer, we hope there will be an Irish team among the contenders.

And, if I've done my calculations right - if they go far enough in the competition they could even play here in Philadelphia! (But we won't count our chickens yet).

In Ireland, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic will bring legions of TCU and UNC fans to Dublin this August, and I know the University of Pittsburgh are coming next year.

This year, the Irish Open golf tournament will test the world's best in Trump Doonbeg on the beautiful west coast of Ireland.

Next year, the eyes of the world will be on Adare Manor in county Limerick, when Team USA battle Europe for the Ryder Cup.

These events are more than just sporting contests. They showcase our athletes. They are a platform to inspire a new generation.

They embed the benefits of sport in our communities. But most importantly, they bring us together and forge new friendships.

Of course, here in Villanova, I cannot omit to mention the many young Irish athletes who have come to the United States over the years to learn, to teach, to grow and to compete.

In 1948, County Tipperary's Jimmy Reardon was the first Irish athlete to take up a scholarship here. He laid the foundations of what became known as 'the Irish Pipeline'.

Over the decades, hundreds of Irish athletes in track & field and other sports have followed his example to pursue academic and athletic excellence here at Villanova.

I know this is the home of Ambassador Walsh's beloved Wildcats basketball team, but when we think of Wildcats, it is of course the greats of Track and Field and Cross-Country Running which come to mind.

Villanova has shaped an incredible 13 Irish Olympians. This includes of course Ronnie Delany who passed away on Wednesday of this week at the age of 91. He arrived in Villanova to train under the legendary Jumbo Elliot.

In 1956, aged 21, having won an NCAA title for the Wildcats, he went to the Summer Olympics and with a late surge to the line won Gold for Ireland. This still remains the last time an Irish athlete won Olympic gold on the track.

A four-time individual NCAA champion. At Villanova, Ronnie ate, drank and slept the mile. Ronnie's record of achievements in the indoor mile for Villanova is unparalleled, running undefeated for five years, in indoor competition in America.

It was over this iconic distance that he captivated the nation and inspired future Irish Wildcats. A sporting legend, and a true gentleman who made a significant contribution to Irish life. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam May be rest in peace.

Everyone in Ireland knows the story of Cork's own Sonia O'Sullivan, Ireland's most decorated track athlete with numerous Olympic, World and European medals. But of course, in these parts, she's also a Hall of Fame Wildcat.

Eamon Coghlan was an Olympian, world champion and record holder. An Irish legend, but also a wildcat. And of course, Marcus O'Sullivan whose record is not only as a world class athlete but now a world class coach here in Villanova.

This great tradition continues. Síofra Cleirigh Büttner who represented Ireland in Tokyo in 2020.
I'm sure that the current crop of Irish wildcats including runners Charlie O'Donovan, Jack Fenlon, Sean Donoghue and Caolan McFadden who will be joining the programme this summer; rower Sadhbh McConnell; and basketball star Bronagh Power Cassidy have similar aspirations, including for LA2028 and beyond.

We are immensely proud of them and the sporting legacies they build on.

Their stories inspire.

They remind me of Villanova's Augustinian motto:
Veritas, Unitas, Caritas, - Truth, Unity and Charity.

These values represent your athlete's commitment to community, academics, and to service.

Values which I think infuse not just all that is great about Villanova, but which say a lot about Irish America.

In Ireland, we know the importance of standing together. An old proverb tells us that we live in each other's shelter - Ar Scáth a cheile a mhaireann na daoine.

The spirit of unity inspired Charles Thomson and the founding fathers 250 years ago. It inspires this university.

In a world which faces monumental challenges, it should direct us to work together on a shared and exciting future, for Ireland, for our relationship with the United States of America and for the world we share.

Go raibh maith agat. Thank you.