Wicklow tipped to be major winner as American Presidents Trail gathers pace ahead of America250

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

As Ireland moves towards the America250 commemorations, a major tourism and heritage initiative, the American Presidents Trail, is gathering momentum, and County Wicklow is emerging as one of the counties set to gain most from the project.

The trail, which highlights the Irish ancestral roots of 23 US Presidents, was the subject of a recent detailed exchange in the Dáil, where Wicklow TD Edward Timmins pressed the government for an update and emphasised the opportunity for his home county.

During the debate, Deputy Timmins reminded the chamber that he had first proposed the idea early last year and thanked the Culture Minster Patrick O’Donovan for supporting it.

“A total of 23 US Presidents have had Irish heritage, with many coming from Northern Ireland,” he said, noting that the initiative had the potential to become a flagship tourism route.

He added that he had already identified “several key counties to consider with a suggested route,” and stressed that “ultimately, however, this map would benefit all parts of Ireland.”

County Wicklow has long-standing Irish‑American connections, a strong tourism base, and a strategic location close to Dublin. With the trail designed as an all‑island project, Wicklow is expected to feature prominently among the communities linked to presidential ancestry.

The initiative’s structure—tree planting, interpretive panels, and inclusion in national publications—means that any county included will gain a permanent heritage marker and a place on a route likely to attract significant US visitor interest.

Responding to Deputy Timmins, junior minister Charlie McConalogue confirmed that the project is advancing quickly.

“Significant progress has been made in advancing Ireland’s America250 programme,” he said, noting that the state has committed €200,000 to support commemorative events across 2026 and 2027.

He described the American Presidents Trail as “a key initiative within the programme,” and outlined how the Department is working with local authorities to identify communities with ancestral links to former US Presidents.

Each site will be marked with a native tree and an information panel, creating what he called “a lasting legacy for local communities and visitors”.

Deputy McConalogue also highlighted the educational dimension, revealing that two publications, one for general readers and one for children, are being prepared.

The general edition is due before July 4, the official day of America’s 250th birthday, with the children’s version expected in the autumn. These publications will give counties like Wicklow a platform in both domestic and international tourism promotion.

Government ministers Patrick O’Donovan (right) and Charlie McConalogue.

Deputy Timmins used the debate to underline the strategic value of the project for Ireland’s relationship with the US.

“Never has it been so important to highlight the close relationship we have with the United States,” he said. “This trail would promote our close ties. It is a perfect example of the use of soft power.”

He argued that Ireland must “constantly remind ourselves of this fact, develop it and not take it for granted”, pointing to the enormous US investment in Ireland and the cultural affinity between the two countries.

For Wicklow, which already attracts large numbers of American visitors to Glendalough, the Wicklow Mountains, and coastal towns, the trail could serve as a new anchor attraction.

Deputy Timmins suggested that the initiative could become “a fully-fledged tourist route” comparable to the Wild Atlantic Way, and said it should be integrated into a national tourism strategy developed through Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

Such a route would naturally draw visitors south from Dublin into Wicklow, offering opportunities for local businesses, heritage sites, and community groups.

Deputy McConalogue agreed that the project has strong cross border potential, noting that it is being developed in partnership with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland and supported by the Shared Island Unit.

“It is important that we are undertaking this project on an all-island basis,” he said. “All of the island has contributed to the American story and to the development of the American nation over the past 250 years.”

He emphasised that the shared heritage of migration to America is a unifying theme, adding that international connections “bring our own island together as well”.

Deputy Timmins echoed this sentiment, arguing that the trail could strengthen North–South cooperation in a practical, positive way.

“This project should be a part of a national strategy,” he said, adding that it “would boost the economy of Northern Ireland and deliver benefits that we cannot predict”.

Deputy McConalogue agreed, saying that the shared experience of Irish people abroad has long helped to bridge divides at home.

He pointed to the European Union and the peace process as examples of how shared frameworks can bring communities closer together.

In the context of the American Presidents Trail, he said there is “a real opportunity to ensure this is part of our shared future and brings us together in the context of our clear similarities and shared history”.