By Business & Finance 
Pictured at the Principals Club (L-R): US Ambassador Edward Walsh, Lorraine Culligan, Group Director People and Culture at Primark, and Ian Hyland, President of Ireland INC
Ireland INC honoured Primark with the Invest US 2025 Award at the Principals Club dinner on Tuesday, 5th November in Dublin
Business and political leaders gathered at the St. Stephen’s Green Club in Dublin on Tuesday, 5th November, to celebrate the continuing strength of the US-Ireland relationship.
This dinner coincided with the release of the Ireland INC US 250 Index 2025, comprising 250 of the fastest-growing Irish companies investing and operating in the US.
Ian Hyland, President of Ireland INC, opened proceedings by warmly welcoming US Ambassador Edward Walsh and Senator Mark Daly, acknowledging their roles in strengthening the economic and diplomatic ties between Ireland and the United States.
UNICEF Ireland
Hyland closed by reflecting on global privilege and the challenges faced by many due to famine and conflict. He expressed pride in Business & Finance’s business-for-good partnership with UNICEF Ireland and introduced Peter Power, its Executive Director, to speak further.
Power congratulated US Ambassador Edward on his appointment and highlighted the importance of strengthening the transatlantic relationship. He emphasised the challenges of today’s uncertain global environment, noting the importance of a rules-based international system that allows organisations like UNICEF to operate effectively.
Peter Power, Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland
He said: “We all know that we live in really dynamic and evolving times, where there is real uncertainty for businesses and all organisations, including my own, and we’re living in a world where the whole multilateral system – created under the auspices of the United States of America and are written by the US over many years – which really allows us and UNICEF to do our work, that that whole order is really under threat now.
“It’s great to see Ireland as a real leader in the world espousing the absolute crucial importance of working in a world where there are rules, where there are norms, where there are rights, and it’s only in that environment that countries like Ireland can really develop and prosper and so then that organisations like UNICEF can deliver on our humanitarian mission.”
Finally, Power acknowledged the strong support UNICEF receives from Irish companies, highlighting Primark as a notable example.
Senator Mark Daly
Fianna Fáil senator and Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, Mark Daly, spoke later. He discussed how engagement with Irish issues in the US has evolved, noting that fewer members of Congress attend Irish events than in previous decades. To address this, he initiated the creation of Irish caucuses in every US state. To garner interest, he sent personalised St. Patrick’s Day cards to key legislators.
He said: “There are people not engaged on Irish issues on Capitol Hill like they once were, where once before the Taoiseach would arrive on Capitol Hill, you’d have 70, 80 members of Congress show up with Senator Kennedy, now it’s 6 or 7.
Senator Daly’s efforts led to the establishment of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus, a bi-partisan network of current and former American Irish legislators from across the United States of America, at local and state level of government, and their counterparts in Ireland at local and national level. This effort now involves over 3,000 state legislators across all 50 states and has fostered political, business, and educational connections.
Senator Mark Daly, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann
Daly noted America’s role in Ireland’s peace process, stating: “There are people alive in Ireland today because the United States got involved, but more importantly stayed involved, in our peace process.”
Daly also reflected on Ireland’s historic contributions to the US, telling the story of Thomas Francis Meagher, the creator of the Irish tricolour. Leader of the Young Irelanders in the Rebellion of 1848, Meagher was arrested and convicted of sedition. He was the last man to be sentenced to death by being “hanged, drawn and quartered”. However, he received transportation to Australia, and later escaped to United States where, in 1852, he settled in New York City.
Meagher later joined the US Army, becoming brigadier general. He recruited an Irish brigade and encouraged support for the Union among Irish immigrants.
Ambassador Edward Walsh
Ambassador Edward Walsh spoke with good humour, joking that previous speeches teeing him up had been “a little too much”.
Ambassador Walsh framed his speech around the historic, cultural, and economic ties between Ireland and the United States. He stressed that this relationship is built on shared ancestry and enterprise.
Trade and investment between the two countries now approaches $1 trillion, a remarkable achievement, Ambassador Walsh notes, for a nation of just 5.5 million people.
Ambassador Edward Walsh
Irish investment in the US ranks roughly fifth largest among foreign investors, he notes.
He reflected on the ‘uncertain times’ often cited in economic discussions, noting that while the phrase is frequently used, Ireland’s economy is performing strongly. Walsh acknowledged past global crises but said that the current moment is comparatively positive, especially for young people.
Looking ahead, Walsh outlined plans for 2026, including leading the Irish delegation to the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC, and developing the America 250 programme in Ireland to celebrate the US’s 250th anniversary.
Lorraine Culligan
Primark was honoured with the Invest US 2025 Award. Lorraine Culligan, Group People and Culture Director at Primark, opened her speech with a tribute to Breege O’Donoghue, a former Board Member and Group Director for Business Development & New Markets at Primark, who was in the audience.
“I’m under a little bit of pressure,” Culligan said. “My former boss is in the room.”
Culligan outlined Primark’s story, beginning with its founding (as Penney’s) by Arthur Ryan in 1969 on Mary Street, Dublin. It started with a simple mission: “Providing affordable fashion to the Irish population”.
That same spirit, she said, still drives the business today: “We operate more than 470 stores across 18 countries in Europe, the US and recently in the Middle East with a partnership with Alshaya.
“We employ 80,000 colleagues and our global headquarters is based here on Parnell Street, where we employ approximately 1200 people, and the amazing work that happens in Arthur Ryan House in Dublin in terms of the product that our customers wear, whether it’s in Paris, Madrid, Boston, that comes from the great inspiration of the teams that sit and work in our Dublin office every day.”
Lorraine Culligan, Group Director People & Culture, Primark
Culligan said the company was proud to be celebrating 10 years in the US market. Primark opened its first American store in Boston’s Downtown Crossing in 2015, led by Breege O’Donoghue and a dedicated team who worked through many challenges to connect with Boston’s Irish community.
Since then, Primark has grown to 33 stores across 13 states, mostly in the north-east, with the most recent store launched in Nashville, Tennessee. The company plans further expansion, with 17 new stores already signed in states such as Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Culligan said they are especially excited about next spring’s opening of a flagship store in downtown Manhattan, opposite Penn Station.
Primark now employs 5,000 people in the United States, a number that continues to rise. Culligan said she takes great pride in seeing staff move between Ireland and the US: “It gives me great passion and determination to see colleagues who have relocated from Ireland to the US and colleagues from the US have the opportunity to come and work in stores in Ireland and indeed stores in Europe”.
Ireland INC
The Principals Club coincided with the release of the seventh edition of the Ireland INC US 250 Index. This year’s Index, comprising 250 of the fastest-growing Irish companies investing and operating in the US, truly reflects the strength and value of Irish FDI in the States..
This year’s index features special guest contributions from Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Finance of Ireland; Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland; Danny McCoy, CEO of Ibec; Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland; Michael Burke, Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory, and more.
Ian Hyland, President of Ireland INC, in the 2025 Ireland INC Special Report, writes: “In 2024, Irish exports to the US reached a record €72.6bn in 2024, and Irish-origin investments are valued at over $322 billion. These investments span key industries including life sciences, software, ICT, construction, food and business services.
“This year also coincides with significant developments in transatlantic trade and investment. The recent EU-US agreement established a 15% tariff ceiling, which has provided certainty for Irish exporters. The opening of Ireland’s new Embassy in Washington DC by Tánaiste Simon Harris in September 2025 highlights the priority both nations place on deepening this partnership.”
Ireland INC is proudly supported by NYSE, IDA Ireland, Ibec, Select USA, Enterprise Ireland, Arnall Golden Gregory, Business & Finance, Western Development Commission, UNICEF, and Pfizer.
The Ireland INC Index 2025 can be viewed here
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