By Business & Finance 
Pictured (L-R): First row: Paul Connolly, Founder- Connelly Capital; Ben English, Executive Director- US Ireland Partnership for Growth; Congressman Mike Lawler, Congressman- US House of Representatives; Minister Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment- Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; Ian Hyland, President- Ireland Inc; Will Goodwin, New York Stock Exchange; Lucinda Creighton, CEO- Vulcan Consulting; Lucy Hyland, Founder- HILO Technologies; Priyanka Kotian, Programme Manager- Ireland Inc.
Second row: Gerald Angley, Counsel General- Consul General of Ireland in New York; Kevin Sherry, Executive Director- Enterprise Ireland; Mike Burke, Partner- AGG; Mary Buckley, Executive Director- IDA; Brian Brennan, Tax Partner- KPMG; Bart Kelleher, President & Director- Ardmore Shipping; Peter Power, Executive Director- UNICEF.
Political and business leaders have gathered at the 15th annual Ireland Day Leadership forum at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
By Héloïse Chaudot
Ireland’s economic footprint in the United States was on full display on March 16, 2026. Senior representatives from both countries came together to mark the 15th annual Ireland Day Leadership Forum. Hosted by Ireland INC, the flagship event highlighted a milestone in the deepening US-Ireland economic relationship. That relationship is now valued at over $1 trillion.
The 2026 forum was themed “The Next 250: Stronger Together.” It explored how the transatlantic partnership can evolve to deliver sustained growth, resilience, and shared prosperity. Notable attendees included Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Peter Burke; Congressman Mike Lawler; Oisin Hanrahan of Keychain; and Deb Mangone of Pfizer Ireland.
The Ireland INC delegation punctuated the event by ceremonially ringing the NYSE opening bell. This act underscored Ireland’s position as the fifth-largest foreign direct investor in the United States.
Pictured (L-R): Ian Hyland, Founder and President of Ireland INC, and Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment for Ireland.
Now a staple of global St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the forum provides a high-level platform for strengthening economic ties. Peter Burke, Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, noted, “Today, over 200,000 Americans will go to work at Irish companies. Ireland and the US have deep bilateral relations, built on centuries of transatlantic exchange. That is a strong foundation for our modern, dynamic relationship, which I know will continue to go from strength to strength into the future.”
Against a shifting geopolitical landscape, attendees examined the foundations of the transatlantic partnership. They aimed to identify priorities for strategic realignment. Ian Hyland, Founder and President of Ireland INC, said, “The Ireland Day Leadership Forum at the New York Stock Exchange communicates the strongest bond between Ireland and the United States, Economics and Business.
Over 800 Irish businesses are now invested in and expanding across the United States, and nearly 1,000 US corporations are invested in Ireland. The Ireland INC Leadership Forum is a working platform where leaders from business, government and public policy come together to shape the next chapter of the US-Ireland economic relationship.
As Ireland continues to play a significant role as an investor and employer across the United States, and as American companies deepen their presence in Ireland, this Forum is about engaging a proactive strategy – identifying practical steps that will ensure the next 250 years of engagement are defined by Investment, innovation, resilience and shared opportunity.”
The discussion focused on the next phase of transatlantic investment. It highlighted Ireland’s role as a major global investor. The forum closed with each participant committing to a concrete action, aiming to move the conversation from ceremonial to tangible strategies.
As Ireland continues to play a significant role as an investor and employer across the United States, and as American companies deepen their presence in Ireland, the Ireland Day Leadership Forum remains a vital platform. It continues shaping the future of the bilateral relationship.
