Mayo set to feature on new American Presidents Trail across Ireland

Fine Gael TD Edward Timmins has revealed that the proposed “American Presidents Trail” is being advanced as part of the Ireland–US commemorations marking 250 years since the founding of the United States.

Deputy Timmins, who first proposed the initiative, said almost half of all American Presidents – around 23 in total – have Irish ancestry, with links stretching into communities “in every corner of Ireland”, including Mayo.

“There’s a huge story here, and the American Presidents Trail across our island is a chance to tell it properly,” he said.

For Mayo, the project could shine a spotlight on towns and rural areas with historic connections to US leaders, potentially drawing new visitors beyond traditional tourist hotspots. They include President Joe Biden, whose ancestral links with Mayo have been well documented. Senior officials are now working with local councils to identify designated locations and install standardised information points along the trail. 

The scheme is being developed in collaboration with Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, whose department is working alongside the North’s Department of Communities and local authority networks across the island.

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In a Parliamentary Question, Minister O’Donovan confirmed that the project is being progressed under the America250 Programme – a joint effort between the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – which will mark the 250th anniversary of US independence later this year.

It is proposed that each site on the trail will feature a physical marker, including the planting of a native tree and an accompanying information panel outlining the presidential connection. A co-ordinated tree-planting ceremony could take place in July 2026, further embedding the initiative within local communities.

Deputy Timmins has also produced a US Presidents “Road Map” identifying key counties linked to various US Presidents, from Antrim to Offaly, Wexford, Mayo and beyond. The aim is to encourage tourists to explore towns and villages they may not otherwise visit.

“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 said.

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Minister O’Donovan is travelling to Georgia for St Patrick’s Day, where it is hoped further progress can be secured to deliver elements of the project this summer.

“With the 250th anniversary just four months away, I’m very encouraged by the momentum behind this project. There is a real commitment from officials and local authorities, and I’m hopeful that significant progress will be made in time for the commemorations,” Deputy Timmins concluded.

If delivered in time for the America250 celebrations, the trail could offer a timely tourism boost for Mayo, tapping into the deep well of Irish-American heritage and strengthening historic ties between communities on both sides of the Atlantic.