Galway’s White House roots route
A backbench TD claimed that momentum is building for a US Presidents Trail across Ireland with a chance it could be up and running by next summer – and Galway is included as part of the proposed list of destinations.
Wicklow Deputy Edward Timmins, who first proposed the initiative explained that “almost half of all American Presidents have Irish roots – around 23 in total – and many of those connections lead back to communities in every corner of Ireland.”
“There’s a huge story here, and the American Presidents Trail across our island is a chance to tell it properly,” he said.
“This is a great opportunity to celebrate Ireland and the United States’ shared heritage, while encouraging tourists to explore towns and villages they never normally would,” he added.
Galway’s inclusion might have been down to its claims on the heritage of Joe Biden – but the stronger connection is to the 36th President Lyndon B. Johnson, who held office from 1963 to 1969 and who boasted a five-time great grandfather from County Galway.
Joe Biden’s roots in Mayo and Louth are well known, but his ancestors also came from proud Galway stock.
Four generations back from the former President, Mary Ward and John Hanafy – or Hanniffy – were from Ballinacourty, outside Oranmore, emigrating to the US at the height of the Great Hunger.
Other well-known connections include Barack Obama’s Offaly roots; JFK’s roots in Limerick, Wexford, Cork, Clare and Fermanagh; the Bush links to Co Down; Ronald Reagan to Antrim and Tipperary; Jimmy Carter to Antrim, and Richard Nixon to Kildare.
Edward Timmins has been working with Minister Patrick O’Donovan to advance the novel project.
It is now proposed the relevant local authorities where a US President has a historical or ancestral link would mark this with a special event this Summer.
Minister O’Donovan’s department is working with the North’s Department of Communities and local authority networks on the island to deliver Deputy Timmins’ initiative.
It is now proposed that a physical marker of a native tree and information panel at the numerous sites will be the beginning of the project. A co-ordinated tree planting ceremony may take place in July 2026.
“Minister O’Donovan is travelling to Georgia for St Patrick’s Day where it is hoped to secure further progress on delivering this project this Summer.
I want to thank him for his efforts on this which would be of great benefit to the entire island,” Deputy Timmins said.
In a Parliamentary Question, Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan confirmed the project is being advanced as part of the America250 Programme, a joint effort between the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The programme will mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States later this year.
Deputy Timmins has produced a US Presidents ‘Road Map’ identifying key counties linked to various US Presidents, stretching from Antrim to Offaly, Wexford, Mayo and beyond. Senior officials are now working with local councils to identify designated locations and install
standardised information points along the trail.
“I’m hopeful that significant progress will be made in time for the commemorations,” he concluded.