Minister Lyons launches PRONI series of USA 250 events
Date published:
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has launched the first in a series of events to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
‘Ireland and America: 250th Anniversary Perspectives’ was organised by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland. The event at PRONI, which was fully booked, highlighted the scale of public interest in the upcoming 2026 anniversary.
Opening the event, Minister Lyons highlighted the global significance of the 250th anniversary and the role people from Ulster played in the formation of modern America.
Minister Lyons said:
“I am keen to promote the impact Ulster-Scots and Irish American migrants had on the creation and development of the United States of America, influencing government, civic society, business and culture. This important milestone offers Northern Ireland an opportunity to build on our shared historical legacy and to celebrate the connections between our ancestors and their role in shaping America after independence.
“It is fitting that the first event in this series takes place at PRONI, home to thousands of rare historical documents that tell the migration stories of those who left Ireland for America, a truly personal record of their experiences in the search of a new life.
“I recognise our deep bonds with the United States and know many people here will be keen to commemorate this anniversary. I recently announced £250,000 for the people of Northern Ireland to celebrate the anniversary and will highlight further details in the coming months.”
The Department for Communities is currently developing a 250th anniversary programme that will include lectures, talks, conferences, exchanges of documents, exhibitions and outreach in both Northern Ireland and the United States.
Notes to editors:
- The event features a keynote address from Professor Ian McBride of Oxford University followed by a panel discussion from several expert historians including Dr Sophie Cooper (Queen's University Belfast), Professor David Dickson (Trinity College Dublin) and Dr Patrick Fitzgerald (Mellon Centre for Migration Studies) who will discuss the ways in which Irish and American histories are entangled and interconnected.
- At least five of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence had direct Ulster family connections, Thomas McKean, James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton and Edward Rutledge. The Declaration itself was printed by an Ulster-Scot, John Dunlap from Strabane, Co. Tyrone. The Great Seal of the United States was designed by Charles Thomson from Upperlands in Co. Londonderry. Twenty of the US Presidents can claim Ulster-Scots roots.
- Photo caption: Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with (L-R) James Applegate, US Consul General, Belfast, Ian McBride, Foster Professor of Irish History at the University of Oxford at the launch of the PRONI series of USA 250 events
- For media enquiries please contact the Press Office via email
- Follow the Department on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.